By JIMOH BABATUNDE

The hospitality sector of the tourism industry is at the verge of collapsing in the country if the Federal government does not intervene with a special fund.

The National President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Mr. Samuel Alabi, in a chat with travel journalists during the week said the global recession has finally caught up with hospitality industry in the country.

“Initially the economic recession was not felt in Nigeria, but with time from 2009 the sales of the hotels in the country started dwindling. This is why most of the business plans done before then have become difficult to achieve. “

Mr. Alabi said based on the reality on ground that there is need for an intervention funds from the government to protect the industry from collapsing.

He said the hospitality sector will need an intervention in the range of N500b as the sector is too important to the country’s economy for it to go under ground.

The FTAN President disclosed that there are about seven hundred hotels in Lagos today and employing more than 500, 000 people with a huge annual turn over.

“What we are asking for is an intervention fund and not a revival fund. We want a fund that can be assessed by practitioners in line with similar development in other industry.”

Alabi mentioned similar intervention funds by the Federal government in the real sector managed by the Central Bank; the Cabotage vessel financing fund being managed by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); the Power and Aviation Intervention fund being managed by the Bank of Industry as well as the Textile, Cotton and Garment revival fund being managed by NEXIM.

He said if the federal government decides to set up an intervention fund for the hospitality sector of the tourism that it will not be difficult disbursing as the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) as the regulatory body in the tourism industry has the records of all hotels in the country.

Alabi pleaded that the government should not wait until their business become comatose before being aided, “ if the Federal Government is determined to reduce over dependence on oil revenue is to be achieved, the development of tourism industry must be encouraged by provision of cheap funds.”

The FTAN President applauded the government decision to lift the ban on the importation of furniture, saying that for the hospitality to meet international standard, it must be allowed to get the best any where in the world to furnished hotels.

He said why they will like to get furniture locally, but the standards are still f behind what obtained internationally, “ pending when we will get that right here in Nigeria we will need to import furniture for most hotels in the country.”

While speaking on the activities of the federation in recent time, Alabi explained that most of the members do not understand what is expected of them, “ we have asked the membership committee to carry out enlightenment campaigns and to revive those bodies that are not functioning.”

He disclosed that as a way of professionalising the industry that they are entering into agreement with the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism for certification of practitioners.

“Just like other professions like banking, insurance, taxes among others, it is our plan to lead the certification of our industry. It is our belief that if achieved, Nigeria tourism industry will be rid of undesirable elements.”