The arrangement is on top gear for the staging of the first-ever National Tourism Transport Summit and Exhibition, which has been scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja for May 21 – 22, with the theme: Tourism and transportation, the key sectors for sustainable growth and development.
The summit, which is being powered by the Institute of Tourism Professionals (ITP), is coming on the heels of the 15th National Council on Transportation meeting held in Sokoto in August 2017, where the need to have collaboration among the Federal Ministry of Transportation and other government and non-government agencies together with the private stakeholders across the transportation modes, tourism and hospitality value chain for sustainable economic growth and development.
To this, Nigeria ministers of tourism and transport are expected for the first to form a synergy in exploring the benefits that are derived from this mutual link so as to create the environment for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
The event offers a unique opportunity for policymakers, regulators, entrepreneurs, key players in both the tourism and transport sectors of the economy, investors and the general public to engage in an all-participatory discourse aimed at charting the desired synergy, collaboration and connective inter-play between the two sectors for maximum economic benefits of the country.
It will also deliberate on the complex relationship between transport provision and tourism, and will adopt global perspective in forging a mutual relationship between the two sectors; It will make regulatory and enforcement agencies, national, state and local government to reappraise and have a better understanding of the importance of tourism and transportation to local, state and national economies, and their impact on employment regeneration.
The sub themes are: Tourism and Transportation Interdependencies for mutual growth and sustainable development; Potentialities of developing regional inter-connectivity in transportation; Inter-modal connectivity, traveler safety and security; Licensing regulations and oversight – meeting the international standards for sustainable development of the Transportation and Tourism industries; Marketing Destination Nigeria- what role for the transportation and tourism sectors; Public private partnership and investment in the tourism and transportation sectors- prospects and challenges; Development of critical infrastructure and the ease of doing business in Nigeria- the case of tourism and transportation industries; as well as Building capacity for global best practices in the tourism and transportation sectors.
The summit is expected to explore the relationship among all major stakeholders—governments at federal, state and local levels, international organizations, the private sector, and communities, which is vital for achieving the objectives of sustainable tourism and transport development.
Therefore, participants at the two day event will be drawn from major key players and stakeholders in the transportation and tourism sectors such as air transportation, airlines, tour and travel operators, administrators of the aviation industry, maritime industry – sea transport, boats and sea cruising operators, road transportation – major transport owners, car hire services, uber, NURTW, RTEAN, road traffic and safety agencies, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), motor insurance companies.
Others are operators of tourism and hospitality industry, including tourism resort operators, National Parks Services; museums and monuments, State tourism ministries and boards, festivals and tourism event managers; hoteliers, restaurants, and fast food operators as well as service providers in the banking, oil and gas industries.
The Tourism Transport Summit and Expo 2018 will consist of sections such as tourism transport summit, tourism transport training, an exhibition – B2B and G2B sessions, tourism transport ambassadors’ award and gala night.
