Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, the wife of late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu and the country’s former ambassador to Spain has urged Nigerians to always project the good image of Nigeria and also key into the tourism industry as it had the ability to increase the country’s revenue.
Vanguard reports that Bianca said this at the opening of the “2015 Akwaaba Travel Expo’’ which took place in Lagos on Sunday, November 22.
The wife of the foremost Igbo leader said Nigeria had a lot of things that could attract tourists to the country which would generate a lot of revenue.
She urged the government to use tourism to generate revenue, create employment and increase foreign exchange earnings for economic growth.
She noted that the presence of local and foreign exhibitors in spite of security challenges was an indication that good things were coming to Nigeria.
She said: “The fair will bring about tourism and cultural integration and corporation between Nigeria and other foreign countries.
“It will also serve as a platform for branding and showcasing individual countries’ tourism destinations.
“It is not only Nigeria that is facing security challenges; it depends on how you project your country.”
She warned that negative projection of the country would only stir investors away and urged Nigerians to always project the country’s good image.
“Nigeria is a great nation with great people, nice hospitality and also with rich cultural heritage.”
The president of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies, Mr Aminu Agoha said the benefit of tourism included boosting the country’s currency as foreign investors would come into the country.
He urged the federal government and stakeholders in the industry to pay more attention to domestic tourism.
“We should market more of our domestic tourism to the world instead of those of foreign countries.
“We have lots of tourism potential to sell to the world,’’ he said.
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