Chief Executive Officer
(CEO), De-Image Creation and Fashion School, Lagos, Mrs Temilola Akintayo, had said that the tourism industry would become a major contributor to the nation’s economy in future if the problems affecting infrastructure were addressed.
Akintayo told newsmen in Lagos that the industry was the second largest employer of labour in the world.
“The sector is capable of sustaining a nation due to its verse potential.
“It is the second largest employer of labour. There  is nowhere in the world that there are no hotels and tourism establishments,’’ she said.
According to her, tourism has developed to a level that it will become a major force for social change, but certain problems still need to be fixed.
“Tourism can become the major economic earner for the country in future, but infrastructural problems must first be addressed,” she said.
Akintayo suggested that the Federal Government should commence the repair of all the highways within the country, adding that good roads made tourism viable.
“Lagos State has some good roads leading to the tourism sites; that is why tourism has developed and has become a major economic earner for the state, “she said.
Akintayo also said that there were security issues that should be addressed so as to ensure that tourists could move about without fear of armed robbers or kidnappers.
She commended the Federal Government for issuing visitors’ visas to several foreign tourists wishing to visit Nigeria.
“A lot has improved in granting visas to tourists. Therefore, government should also improve more by tackling infrastructural decay to enable tourism thrives in the country,’’ she said.
Akintayo, therefore, urged the government to collaborate with stakeholders and other private investors to make tourism establishments flourish in the country.