Tourism To Create 120,000 Jobs In 2020

The  Director, Tourism, National Park Services, Abuja, Mr Sunday Adamu,on Thursday said that the tourism sector would create 120,000 jobs in 2020 due to its wide potential.

Adamu said in a telephone interview that the sector, if well harnessed would be one of the largest employers of labour in the country because of its potential. He said that there were job opportunities in hotels, tour operators, airlines, travel agencies and some other historical and tourist sites, among others. The expert said that the sector was endowed with natural resources like Okomu Forest Reserve, Kainji Lake National Park, Game Reserves and Parks, National War Museum, Liberty Dam, among others.

“If government can properly channel funds to the sector, it will be the highest employer of labour and it will generate high income,’’ he said.

Adamu said that state governments should develop their tourist centres to attract more tourists, adding that such a move would fetch the states huge income.

“There is no state in the country that is not blessed with one tourist potential or the other, but the ability to manage the centres is the major challenge, ” he said. Adamu commended the effort of the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mr Olusegun Runsewe toward promoting and marketing the tourism potential of the nation internationally.

“The NTDC Director has been making good efforts and taking steps to woo tourists into the country, ‘’ he said. Adamu said that the Federal Government should ensure proper maintenance of roads and infrastructure for tourism to thrive. “Inadequate infrastructure is one of the major challenges facing the industry,’’ he said.