Business
Tourism: Export Wants FG To Re-Establish National Carrier
A tourism expert, Mr
Yomi Jones, has appealed to the Federal Government to re-establish a national carrier to promote in-bound and out-bound tourisms in the country.
Jones, the Managing Director of Six Continent Travels and Tours made this plea in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
The expert said that the acquisition or the re-establishment of a national carrier would go a long way in transforming the country to a global aviation hub.
Mr Jones said, “I realised on the world map years back that Lagos State is situated at the middle of the entire world, which makes it very effortless for us to fly through the entire world from Lagos. “I believe Nigeria is endowed by God with this geographical location for reasons we have not realised at all.
“Operating a national carrier enables for easy development of in-bound and out-bound tourism in the country. “Kenya has grown all level of tourism as Kenya airline is rated the third most successful airline in Africa,’’ he said.
He said that the Ethiopian Airlines had also transformed the country to another tourism hub because the airlines ensured that all its passengers passed through Adiss Ababa, the capital.
According to Jones, Nigeria can only develop its aviation manpower when maintenance facilities are put in place and has one of its airports as operational office for West Africa.
“I believe it will be economically impossible to ferry aircraft overseas for maintenance. “So the establishment of a national carrier will attract the establishment of maintenance repair and overhaul facilities in Nigeria,’’ Jones said.
He suggested that the Federal Government needed to restrategise and reorganise all sector of governance in order to regain all that had been lost in the past.
Jones noted that reclaiming all sector of government would definitely revive the nation’s economy.