Tourism Dev: Group Seeks Govt, Private Sector’s Partnership

A tourism develop
ment advocacy group under the banner of Tourism Experts has called for a public, private sector partnership to develop high class tourism site and museums in the country.
The body made the call when it paid a courtesy call on the Amayanabo of Opobo and Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers,  King Dandeson Jaja at his office in Port Harcourt, recently.
Leader of the group, and prominent hotelier and tourism promoter in the state, Chief Mike Amachree, in his address said while the private sector can drive tourism development, it needs the asslstance of the state and federal governments.
He said, “The only area where government comes in is to provide the needed infrastructure and superstructures and the enabling environment for the private sector to operate and to regulate the activities of the private sector.”
Amachree also called on both the private sector and government to partner in establishing private tourist sites, monuments’, museums, tour operating and tour guiding enterprises which will create more jobs for the people.
In line with this, he disclosed that the Brooklyn Tourist Centre has established a Museum of African History and Culture in Port Harcourt.
The facility he further stated is capable of providing jobs for 500 persons and attracting tourists to the state.
He, therefore, called on the new Chairman of Traditional Rulers Council to use his good office to prevail on government to make tourism a revenue earning reasoning that it is one way to diversify the economy.