Our Concern Is Tourism Laws, Not Personalities – FTAN

• FTAN says its push to review the NIHOTOUR and NTDA Acts is about fixing the tourism regulatory framework, not fighting the institutions or their leaders.

• The federation says questions over professional-body recognition and governance should be settled through consultation and due process.

• FTAN maintains that its advisories and policy interventions are part of its responsibility to protect tourism operators and keep stakeholders informed.

August 25, () — The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has said its push for a review of the laws governing the tourism sector is not aimed at the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) or the individuals heading the agencies.

FTAN President, Dr Aliyu Ajayi Badaki, said the federation’s concern is to ensure that the NIHOTOUR Act 2022 and NTDA Act 2023 reflect the current realities of the tourism industry and protect the interests of operators, investors and other stakeholders.

Badaki made the clarification in a statement issued in response to a recent commentary by Frank Meke, which FTAN said misrepresented its position on recent developments involving NIHOTOUR, its Director-General, Dr Abisoye Fagade, and the National Committee on Industry Professional Bodies Recognition and Governance.

FTAN said the debate should not be turned into a personal issue, stressing that its interventions are based on its responsibility as the umbrella body for private-sector tourism operators.

The federation said it has the right to seek clarification whenever government policies or actions could affect tourism businesses, practitioners or professional associations.

“FTAN’s concerns are not personal and should not be reduced to an opposition to any individual or institution”, the federation said.

It said the issues surrounding the recognition and governance of professional bodies were important to the industry and should be addressed through consultation, due process and the relevant legal framework.

FTAN also defended the advisories and cautions it has issued to its members and other stakeholders, saying they are part of its normal responsibility to keep the industry informed about developments that could affect operators.

The federation rejected the suggestion that such advisories amounted to confrontation or boycott threats.

It also disagreed with the claim that it had avoided media scrutiny, saying it had continued to attend stakeholder meetings, industry events and engagements with government agencies.

According to FTAN, however, not every disagreement needs to be played out in the media, as dialogue and direct engagement can sometimes provide better solutions.

The federation also made clear that it has no personal issue with Fagade or Prof. Wasiu Babalola, who chairs the committee on professional bodies’ recognition and governance.

FTAN said its interest in the committee was about its mandate, composition, procedures and expected outcome, rather than the personalities involved.

The federation said it remained ready to engage NIHOTOUR, NTDA, the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, professional associations and other stakeholders to resolve the issues.

It stressed that the industry needs practical solutions, adding that such solutions can only come through facts, consultation, transparency and respect for due process.