Community Leader Tasks Govt On Tourism

The  Community
leader of Eri Kingdom in Enugwu Aguleri of Anambra State, Eze Augustine
Chukwuemeka-Eri, has urged all tiers of government to develop tourism to
complement oil to boost the nation’s economy.

Chukwuemeka-Eri
made the call recently in a telephone interview with newsmen.

He
called on the government to identify the potential abound in the tourism sector
and ensure they were harnessed.

“The
government should saddle itself with the responsibility of establishing and
sustaining centres that will promote tourism development at the grassroots.’’

He
said that the promotion of the tourism industry would create more jobs for the
youths and contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

Chukwuemeka-Eri,
who called for allocation of more funds to tourism to guarantee greater
development of the sector, stated that the establishment of more cultural
centres was crucial to boosting creativity in the industry.

The
traditional leader, who noted that countries without oil were thriving with
tourism, asked: ‘’ So why wouldn’t Nigeria follow suit and tap the tourism
potential from the grassroots.’’

Chukwuemeka-Eri
said that the provision of modern facilities was also necessary for a
technology-driven arts and crafts development.

He
called for private sector participation in sponsoring tourism with a view to
actualising the sector’s gains for the economic prosperity of the country.

Chukwuemeka-Eri
acknowledged that tourism had the capacity to serve as a pedestal upon which a
nation’s social cohesion and economic development could flourish.