Travel Agencies Record N165bn

Travel agencies in the
country recorded over $1 billion (N165 billion) in ticket sales between 2010 and 2013.
The Deputy National President of National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, Mrs Susan Akporiaye, disclosed this in Abuja in a chat with newsmen.
Akporiaye said the association got the data through the electronic ticketing system known as the Billing and Settlement Plan platform developed in 2010 by members.
“It is a system in which you issue ticket electronically and payment is made through the bank. There is no writing of cheques or moving around of cash like we used to do in old days. Everything is done electronically.
“Therefore, there are records for it. That is why I am giving you this record of over a billion as the agencies’ contribution to Nigerian economy from 2010 to 2013,’’ she said.
Akporiaye, who is also Managing Director, Topaz Travels and Tours Ltd., said the revenues made by the government through ticket sales were also good for the Nigerian economy.
According to her, every travel agency has an average of five members of staff.
“I know that we have serious issues with employment and every travel agency has an average of five members of staff and this can be more if the agency has branches in Abuja and Lagos, she said, adding that, we have over 600 travel agencies in Nigeria with an average of five members of staff per office. “Look at the number of employment that we are providing in the country.  This explains why the travel agency is very important.
“Out of the total ticket sales of airlines, the travel agencies make 90 per cent of the ticket sales of any airline,’’ says Akporiaye.