SSG Tasks New Tourism Boss

The Rivers State Tourism Development Agency(RSTDA) has been tasked to be self sustainable through private sector participation capable of generating revenue to the state.

Secretary to the State Government, Mr George Feyii gave the charge at the weekend while handing out a road map to the new board chairman of the agency, Deacon Vincent Erinwo at his office in Port Harcourt.

Mr. Feyii said with the appointment of new board chairman, the agency should be able to evolve methods that would promote tourism development in the state.

Said he, “ You have gone to the stage where the agency should be sustainable to run itself, and not to wait for government funding, by this measure, the agency is expected to think out ways of achieving broader issues of tourism development in the state’’.

He tasked the board to work in unison by pooling their wealth of experiences and competences in ensuring that the objectiveness of the agency is achieved.

“The Rivers State Government expects cohesion in the board, as squabbles would disintegrate the agency, we know it is painstaking effort in trying to identify this need, but we believe that your team have the right kind of chemistry to ensure the objective for setting up the agency is achieved,’’ Feyii further remarked.

The SSG harped on the need to involve public sector partcipation in tourism development as that would create sustainability and revenue generation, while urging the agency to aim for greater performance.

Responding, the new Chairman of the board, Deacon Erinwo assured the Rivers State Government scribe that they would ensure they work in unison to achieve set goals.

“ I assure you that the ideas of members of the board drawn from different background would be put together in a melting pot for the galvanization of the activities of government to achieve desired goals’’.

He pleaded for full government support and encouragement for the agency to make the state a hub of tourist attraction and destination, capable of earning revenue and provision of employment opportunities to Rivers people.

In the same vein, Director General of the agency, Dr. Sam Dede has assured of the readiness of the agency to achieve success in the tourism development prospects of the state.