Members of the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) have decried what it termed dual registration in the tourism industry.

The President of the association, Sam Alabi, said it is ironical that the states that distributed the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) registration forms to them are now the same people asking them to denounce NTDC.

“Those clamouring for dual registration were the ones that circulated NTDC registration forms and distributed the NTDC registration certificates after registration to these tourism establishments.”

The President, while speaking at the inauguration of FTAN board of Trustees Weekend in Lagos, said since they have refused to be used as spanner in the wheel of progress by the states that “we have suffered penalties as roles carved out for us by some of these states Government in their programmes were later withdrawn.”

Mr. Alabi called on all tourism enterprises to comply with NTDC Decree by registering with the corporation, noting that NTDC has done a lot to sanitize the tourism industry in Nigeria.

“We support steps that are being taken to get rid of these negative elements. A safer industry is better for all genuine stakeholders in the industry.”

The FTAN President said the tourism industry is not only an economic multiplier that it is a veritable ingredient for nation’s building and physical growth.

He said notwithstanding the role of tourism industry in the economic growth of the country that it has been left out of all economic development strategies and approved an intervention fund.

“AS at date, the tourism industry is in excess of N1trillin with a revenue yield close to N200billion per annum. Being labour intensive, it provides employment opportunity for up to .5milliom Nigerians.”

He, therefore, appealed to the government to create an intervention fund for the industry to the tune of N500billion like it has done for other industries like agriculture, aviation and the real sector.

The guest of honour at the event, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), said the intervention fund they are asking for might not come to fruition if they do not push out the bad eggs among them.

He commended the leadership of the association urging them to put in more efforts as they have a big role to play in the development of the industry