Mr Folorunsho Coker, Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) said the 2017 NTDC Bill (Senate Bill 429) is to revolutionize the country’s tourism for better performances.

Coker said this while addressing newsmen on the sidelines of the “Public hearing on NTDC ACT CAP N137 LFB, 2014 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2017, 2017 (SB429)” on Thursday in Abuja.

“The Bill simply seeks to address that old school laws into the new school for us to be able to enjoy the tourism potential we already have as a nation.

“We are talking about tourism as a whole. There is fashion, food, sport, religious and music tourism. We are also talking about building the right foundation in which everything can grow.

“The Bill was enacted in 1992; this is 2017, that is 25 years. What was the value of naira then, what was the population of Abuja then, what were the tourism assets we had then, what were the conditions of our cultural and heritage destinations then,” Coker asked.

The NTDC boss emphasised that the Bill looked at the laws governing tourism from 1992 when it was set up to 2017 and looking beyond.

He explained that the 8th Senate had look forward and decided that tourism generates a lot of money around the world.

“The assets of Nigeria in terms of the value chain can generate so much for the country.

“Senate has now decided to move he bills, the laws that controls tourism from what they were in 1992 to 2017.

“Tourism generates 7.6 trillion dollars annually in the world. Africa sees about five per cent. We are the most populous and wealthiest country in Africa.

“I know that out of the five per cent, Nigeria sees N1.8 billion only. We have the population and diversity that create unique art. We have everything in abundance yet Nigeria seems to be poor in tourism,”Coker said.

NAN reports that the public hearing was chaired by the Senator Matthew Urhoghide, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Culture and tourism.

The objectives  of the hearing was to get reactions on the draft bill from stakeholders in the tourism industry to shape the bill and straighten it before tabling it for consideration.

THE GUARDIAN