The
International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) has sent a
congratulatory message to
Nigeria for introducing tourist visa card to ease the burden of
tourists carrying cash while
in Nigeria and a biometric registration
system for the tourism industry workers.
This
follows a meeting at FITUR between Mr Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, ther
Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation and
Minister Alain St.Ange of the Seychelles.
In
a press statement released in Madrid, Spain by the organisation, a
co-founder of the internationally acclaimed body Mr. Alain St.Ange,
also commended Nigeria for its efforts at curbing fraudulent
tendencies in the industry.
Mr.
Alain St.Ange, who is the Minister of Tourism and Culture of
Seychelles lauded these efforts at repositioning the tourism industry
in Nigeria with international standards and best practices.
“We
in ICTP are very pleased with these development and innovations in
Nigeria. We believe these new products are good for tourism growth in
the continent.”
Accordingly,
the ICTP is encouraging other countries in Africa to do what Nigeria
has done for the growth of tourism in their countries. “We
encourage other countries in Africa to introduce these products to
ease the movements of tourists who would not carry cash because
people don't carry cash across borders any longer”
On
the introduction of biometric registration, the ICTP said
it viewed the development as a right step forward at instilling
confidence in tourists in line with global standard and best
practices. The biometric registration will ensure that the
CV of hotel staff are always available to all tourism establishments
prior to recruitment of new applicants. This will remain an internal
confidential data base for the tourism industry. It is an innovative
system and Africa will bewatching how
it develops as it will ensure hotels have the latest information on
the tourism workforce.
“We
are pleased Nigeria has taken this step, we hope other countries
would do same.
