Lagos – Mr Kushal Dutta, the Managing Director, JOVAGO.com on Tuesday, said that online marketing of hotels, travels, tours and ticketing had contributed tremendously to the growth of hospitality industry in Nigeria.
Dutta, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that people were embracing online booking, marketing and promotion which were gaining global acknowledgment.
He said that online marketing and booking had helped to expand the development of the hospitality industry by showcasing their facilities, services and products for patronage.
“Many hotel, tour and travel operators have expanded their line of business through online marketing and booking of their facilities.
“The quickest and fastest means of making your facilities, products and services known to the general public is through online marketing and advertisement,’’ Dutta said.
He said that online services have contributed 1.7 per cent to the nation`s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and had employed millions of Nigerian youths.
“Nigeria can diversify its economy through hospitality industry because of its substantial and huge potential assets.
“The industry has contributed to the growth of the nation’s economy and also helps in alleviating poverty,’’ he said.
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Dutta said that though it was challenging for some Nigerians to pay online, they preferred to pay directly in the hotel which was not too good for the online operators.
“Some Nigerians still have this mentality of saying that “I don’t want my money to hang on air during online transaction; I’ll rather pay in cash.
“Paying online is faster, quicker, safer and better than going about with cash,’’ he said.
According to him, Jovago.com is Africa’s No.1 booking portal, managing over 20,000 hotels in Africa and over 200,000 around the world.
Dutta said that on such online sites, “you can choose the hotel that fits your exact needs and book it just in couple of seconds’’.
He said that perfect communications with partner hotels were maintained and availability of rooms was assured with swift service and hassle-free cooperation with customers.
“Customers are the reasons why we are in business, therefore, we need to provide them with excellent service delivery,’’ he said.
Dutta urged the Federal Government to create enabling environment for the hospitality industry to thrive. (NAN)
