The Society of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (STPN) has called on government to reduce taxes and levies payable by investors in the hospitality sector, so as to promote tourism in the country.
Chukwuemeka Ogbu, Chairman, STPN, Enugu State, made the call on Sunday in an event to mark the ‘2021 World Tourism Day’ in the state under the theme: ‘Tourism for inclusive growth’.
The event was organised by the STPN, in collaboration with the Nigeria Tourism Development Cooperation (NTDC) and the Enugu state government.
According to him, granting of reliefs and tax holiday by government agencies would encourage and boost the tourism sector.
Ogbu noted that the Tourism sector plays a significant role in employment and contributed to the country’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He, therefore, warned that any attempt to burden the industry with multiple taxes and levies would lead to negative growth in the sector.
The chairman pleaded with the Enugu State government to provide an enabling environment, through the provision of adequate security and access roads to tourism centres.
“For the industry to thrive in the state, certain urgent measures must be put in place.
“And there is the urgent need for the state government, through its Ministry of Culture and Tourism, to create activities and events that will promote culture, festivals and carnivals, during festive periods,” Ogbu said.
He added that the state was a good destination for tourism development due to the attraction of its various tourism sites.
The Zonal Coordinator, NTDC, South-East, Mrs Annette Ibe said the occasion offered the World Tourism Body, as well as member nations, the opportunity to create awareness on the impact of tourism and its social-cultural, economic and political value.
She described the world tourism day as a period of stock taking and performance evaluation, explaining that the theme for this year highlighted the power of tourism to carry every one along, from the biggest airline to the smallest family business.
Ibe said tourism in the 21st century had became a critical player in inclusive and sustainable growth.
Tourism sites, she noted, had taken on global significance in terms of the steep rise in their numbers, their economic contributions and cultural penetration of other societies.