A stakeholder in the tourism and hospitality industry, Dr. Tobi Bernard Thomas, has lauded the Kaduna state government’s move to increase the Internally Generated Revenue of the state. He said with the debt burden inherited by the Uba Sani administration, which has been affecting payment of salaries in the state, the government needs to look inward and increase the State’s IGR.
Dr. Thomas stressed this point at the weekend in Kaduna while addressing journalist on the importance of tourism to nation’s economy. The tourism and hospitality expert urged the state government to prioritised tourism as an alternative means for revenue generation.
The expert opined that Kaduna government should invest in the sector, adding that “tourism investment is the process of capital investment of material and human resources in the tourism sector, with the aim of increasing income or revenues for the country by increasing tourism activity in it by building hotels, resorts, and tourist cities, supporting small tourism projects and developing infrastructure.
“Thus, Kaduna government should view investing in its tourism industry as a means to stimulate growth over the long term and enabling the poor to share in economic gains.”
Dr. Thomas who is the Kaduna State Coordinator of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) while highlighting the importance of tourism, said: “beyond the revenue generation, tourism industry preserves and celebrates our natural and built heritage. Awareness of the needs and wants of the visitors, assists the citizens to develop pride of place, person and occupation. Tourism is a barometer of the economy.”
Dr. Thomas therefore advised the state government partner with the private sector to invest in and build necessary infrastructure, such as roads, airports, ports, and other tourism facilities.