The 8th edition of the National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo has ended in Abuja with a call for the inclusion of Entrepreneurship, skill acquisition and capacity building programs in the National Policy framework for new entrants and practitioners in the industry that will enable youth and women have access to needed skills to practice and promote investment activities in the sector through pragmatic synergy for the various skills and capacity building institutions for the growth and development of the travel tourism, hospitality and transportation industry.
According to a press release by Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, National President of Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN) and Chairman Inter-Ministerial Committee, NTTSummit 2025, the call which was contained in the communique issued at the end of the two-day event, also advocated for stronger collaboration amongst all industry players in both public and private sectors of the industry including the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Certification and Awarding Bodies, training institutions such as NIHOTOUR, NCAT and other relevant bodies for the enhancement of quality service delivery in line with best global practices.
Participants also advocate, among others, collaboration among tourism and transportation stakeholders to standardize and implement effective standards and guidelines of operations in accordance with Nigeria’s domestic industry needs as well as increased investment in transportation infrastructure and the development of tourist sites and attractions supported by public-private partnerships via a strong collaborative synergy.
The communique further asserts that for a more proactive development of Nigeria’s tourism potentials and endowments, particular focus and attention should be paid to community based tourism growth, promotion and development at the grassroots level where almost all the nation’s tourism endowments are domiciled, noting that the federal and state governments should collaborate and encourage local governments and the local community stakeholders to develop their tourist sites including heritage management to champion the business of tourism operations at the grassroots level for sustainable development of the sector.
It further called for the resuscitation of Local Government Tourism Committees to ensure an all-inclusive local stakeholders participation in the tourism activities of each locality for sustainability including developing quality infrastructures that support tourism growth particularly transportation, the lifeline and backbone of the industry, thus, increasing the value chain as well as boost the general economic activities of the area and bring about a general cultural diffusion and preservation of national heritage.
The Communique document came from presentations, discussions and resolutions arrived at, after experts delivered papers that centred on the Theme of the 8th edition of the Summit and Expo: Tourism Transportation Connectivity: Accelerating the Synergy for National Socio-Economic Growth and Development, with each guest speaker deliberating on the Sub themes: Standard and Policies: Panacea to Sustainable Tourism and Transportation Development, Driving Economic Growth through Private Sector Participation and Destination Development Projects and Human Capital Development and Capacity Building in the Tourism and Transportation Sectors.
Others are: Community Based and Inclusive Tourism as Vehicle for Social Integration and Empowerment, Unlocking Investment Opportunities in the Tourism Transport Corridors and Sustainable Management of Marine Resources for Blue Economy Growth.
Organizations and Agencies that delivered papers at the NTTSummit 2025 includes: The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTAD); National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR); The Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC); The National College of Aviation Technology (NCAT); The Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC). and Chartered Institute for Transport Administrators (CIoTA) among others.