LAGOS – A tourism expert, Mr JohnPaul Ezeani, on Saturday in Lagos called for multi-level collaboration by government to develop the tourism initiatives of the various communities across the country.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Ezeani said such initiatives should be encouraged through government’s intervention at all levels.
According to him, such collaboration will boost the contributions of the tourism sector to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Grassroots approach to development of tourism will strengthen domestic tourism and create jobs.
“The new governments at all levels should look at developing tourism at the community levels because there are immense potentials at that level.
“But most often than not we pay little attention to what goes on or exist in those so-called remote and rural areas.
“But we tend to forget that so many tourism attractions exist in such places,’’he said.
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He named the Ozalla Lake in Amaigbo Ozalla Nkanu West Local Government of Enugu State and Ogbaukwu cave in Oyi Local Government of Anambra as some of the tourism sites initiated by the communities.
Ezeani stressed the need to focus on grassroots tourism to fast track the development of domestic tourism.
He said:“If the communities where these attractions exist are not carried along or involved at the early stage of development and planning, such an objective will fail.’’
Ezeani urged government and tourism stakeholders to create adequate awareness in that direction, saying, “It is only when other sectors are developed that we will get it right in this country.’’ (NAN)
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