Kaduna-based tourism expert, Dr. Tobi Bernard Thomas, has urged the Kaduna state government to consider the tourism sector as a means of revenue generation for the state.
He averred that tourism has the potential to boost Kaduna state’s Internally Generated Revenue if proper consideration is given to the sector.
Dr. Thomas made this disclosure on Wednesday during a press conference in Kaduna, where he said that with proper coordination of the tourism sector, the state can conveniently continue servicing its loan. He also disclosed that money generated from tourism can cater to the state’s infrastructure and pay the workforce every month.
Recall that recently, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state lamented that N7bn out of N10bn received as federal allocation was used in serving the huge debt inherited from the past administration of Malam Nasir El-Rufai.
Meanwhile, Dr. Thomas, who is the Kaduna State Coordinator of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), opined that despite the challenges, the government can leverage the tourism potential of the state to alleviate poverty and improve the living standard of citizens.
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While speaking during the conference, the expert added that “there is no doubt that tourism generates income, creates easily accessible training opportunities and jobs, and sales markets for services and local products. Tourism can lead to economic development through direct and indirect effects. Direct effects include revenue generation and foreign exchange. These effects also include the creation of business opportunities that thrive on money earned from tourism or local sourcing of supplies.”
Dr. Thomas advised the Kaduna state government to be more creative and give attention to tourism like any other sector in the state.
