August 02, (THEWILL) – Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has hinted at plans by the prosperity administration to focus attention on ecotourism, agricultural and Film/art tourism. He informed that the potential in these three areas will be harnessed to stimulate the local economy and promote the rich cultural heritage, which would enrich travellers’ experiences in Bayelsa State.
Governor Diri, who spoke through his Commissioner for Tourism Development, Hon. John Alla, at the just concluded Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), non-elective 27th Annual General Meeting, held at Rockview Royale Hotel, Abuja, on Tuesday, maintained that “we want to focus our attention more on our ecotourism potential. We intend to concentrate on ecotourism because by promoting ecotourism, we would be able to promote responsible travel practices, support conservation efforts and contribute to sustainable development.
“Also, by promoting art tourism, we can leverage the power of art to drive economic growth, cultural enrichment, and community development, providing unique and enriching experiences for our visitors and residents alike. By promoting film tourism, we would leverage the appeal of movies and TV shows to attract visitors, drive economic growth, and promote our rich cultural heritage. Film tourism would involve local communities, creating jobs while promoting the culture and traditions of our people.
“Film tourism would offer us opportunities to market and brand our destination, increase visitor numbers to benefit local businesses and stimulate the local economy. Promoting film tourism will help us preserve history, identity, and cultural significance.
“Agricultural tourism promotes farm-to-table experiences to reduce food miles and enhance food security, supporting local food systems and keeping resources within the community. It demonstrates sustainable farming practices, contributing to long-term food security, often supporting small-scale farmers to improve their livelihoods and food security.
“We intend to use agricultural tourism to educate our visitors and locals about our food production, processing and distribution methods while raising awareness about food security. Agricultural tourism provides us with the opportunity to diversify farm income, reduce dependence on single crops, and enhance food security to contribute to rural development and address poverty and food insecurity simultaneously.
“I can assure you that agricultural tourism fosters community engagement, builds relationships between farmers, consumers and stakeholders. It supports food sovereignty, allowing communities to control their food systems and ensure food security. By promoting agricultural tourism as a state, we can support food security, sustainable agriculture and local communities, contributing to a more resilient food system”, the governor reiterated.
He commended the tourism federation for carefully choosing the theme of the 27th AGM: “The Role of the Private Sector in the Development of Tourism in Nigeria”, describing the event as very remarkable and rewarding, saying that the Annual General Meeting which brought stakeholders from across the country and beyond created an opportunity for networking among stakeholders.
Her Excellency, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Botswana to Nigeria, Philda Nani Kereng and former Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, was the Keynote Speaker at the AGM.
Dignitaries that graced the annual general meeting include the National President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Mr Nkereuwem Onung, President of Tourism Federation, Benin Republic, Monsieur Bouraima Mouinou Dine, Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, represented, Minister of Sports John Owan Enoh, represented, Director-General of Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Otunba Folorunsho Coker, Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality & Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, Director General of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, Members of FTAN Board of Trustees, and other key stakeholders.
The AGM featured educative panel sessions, with panelists comprising technocrats from the tourism sector and government ministries, departments and agencies.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
