The Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN) sets to submit tourism bill to NASS

The Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN)
on Friday said that its proposed bill on tourism would soon be
submitted to the National Assembly.

The HATMAN President, Mr Aliyu Badaki, told the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the
thrust of the bill was to encourage professionalism
in the sector.

Badaki added that the association was working in
collaboration with other stakeholders in preparing
the bill before it would be submitted to the National
Assembly.

"We are at the final stage of working on the bill; we
are also working towards ensuring unity among
ourselves; we are waiting for the eighth National
Assembly to settle down.

"When there is legislation, you gain more
recognition. You are able to do more when there are
regulations than when there are none and people
just do what they like..

"HATMAN's role towards professionalism in the
industry is to ensure that people working in the
industry are qualified and well-equipped.
"This is unlike what exists these days, where non-
professionals run the sector without the touch of
hospitality," the HATMAN leader said.
.
He noted that it had often been said by some people
that tourism had the potential to replace oil in
revenue generation for the country.
According to Badaki, the sector is a multi-billion
dollar revenue generator.


"With the various tourist sites, cultural festivals and
carnivals, the country can generate so much
money.
"We need to start with our domestic tourism;
officials of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and
National Orientation know what they are expected
to do.

"When we have the right person as the minister to
partner with, the private sector would achieve a lot.
"The 36 states including the FCT are blessed with
good tourism potential; if they are harnessed and
exported, the country will get revenue than from the
oil sector,'' Badaki said. NAN reports that cultural events such as
Osun/ Osogbo festival, Argungu fishing festival, Calabar carnival and
many others in the country could attract tourists annually to the
country. (NAN)

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