IN the last 12-years, the NTDC has not added any value to Nigeria’s tourism development, marketing and promotion efforts, rather, the leadership has been a burden on the sector.

From one director general to the other, it has been a house of division and deception. As a marketing and promotion agency for the tourism ministry, the NTDC has done nothing to justify its existence; this has nothing to do with the quality of man-power available in the corporation, but a lack of  leadership.

I have been to all the travel fairs around the world where Nigeria’s delegation is led by the NTDC leadership; where other African countries that we should compete with sell and promote their countries with good and colourful brochure, Nigeria’s officials serve food, as if a tourist can be wooed with a mere bowl of amala or pounded yam.

Credit to Chief Samuel Alabi, FTAN president, noted  that, Nigeria’s  stand at every  international event is usually filled with journalists and civil servants, whilst in some cases  only  pictures of hotels are on display.

These journalists who are friends of the NTDC  return and feed Nigerians with bags of lies. One of such incidents was that Nigeria came top as best exhibitor at the 2011 ITB-Berlin International travel fair in Germany, when in reality, it came 13th out the 15 African countries that participated at that fair.

As for NIHOTOUR, the training services it renders cut across training the trainers; Basic Certificate and Professional Management Courses; Mobile training workshops and consultancy services in Hotel, Catering, Travel and Tourism specialised operations.

Since its inception, the institute has produced well over 5,000 skilled and craft trainees servicing the various sub-sectors of the Nigerian travel, tourism and hospitality industry.

For those who conceptualised the idea of the institute , it is meant to provide improved and quality service in the hospitality and tourism industry by introducing  professional, technical and specialised training as well as post-graduate course in the  travel and tourism and hospitality fields, to provide short and long term managerial and supervisory training for the development of specific skills as well as to enhance the quality and efficiency of senior functionaries in the hospitality and tourism industry and to co-operate with relevant bodies to organise and facilitate staff development programmes for teachers and supervisors in polytechnics  and the tourism industry.

Others are, to co-operate with relevant bodies in developing and updating national training curriculum for all levels of personnel in the industry, to provide a forum at which representatives of both public and organised private tourism sectors and tourism institutions can exchange ideas and information on development in the industry,  keep and maintain a register of travel and tourism training institutions, their training programmes, subjects, locations standards, durations and type and to develop a learning resource centre for the production of audio visual aids, collection and dissemination of learning materials as well as to source funds and technical assistance for the promotion of its objectives.

Presently, NIHOTOUR offers courses in Post Graduate Diploma in Tourism and Recreation; Post Graduate Diploma in Hospitality Management; Diploma in Tourism & Recreation; Diploma in Hospitality Management and Diploma in Transport & Travel Management;

Other courses offered are Professional Diploma Tourism & Hospitality in Data Processing and Information Technology; Diploma in Travel and Tourism Management (IATA/UFTAA Foundation); and Certificate in Tourism & Hospitality Data Processing and Information Technology.

Apart from the  aforementioned activities and responsibility, the institute have a good relationship with FTAN and its 12 registered associations as full members; namely; Nigerian Association of Tour operators [NATOP], National Association of Nigeria Travel Agents [NANTA], Association of Nigerian Tourism Journalists and Writers of Tourism [ANJET], Nigeria Hotel Association [NHA], Association of Tourism practitioners of Nigeria [ATPN] and Nigerian Hotel and Catering Institute [NHCI].

Others are, Africa Travel Association [ATA], Nigerian Youth Tourism Organisation [NYTO], Hospitality Personnel Services Employees Associations [HOPSEA], Hotel Owners Forum of Abuja [HOFA], Travel and Tourism Lawyers Association [TATLAN] and Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria [HATMAN].

Mr. ONORIODE GEORGE, publicity secretary of FTAN, wrote from Lagos.