Stakeholders in the Nigerian tourism, travel, and hospitality industries converged at the National Museums of Unity, Aleshinloye, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday for the first Industry Business Symposium of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) to proffer solutions to the turbulent challenges facing the country’s aviation industry.
Speaking at the symposium “Nigeria Aviation Industry Challenges: Surviving the Turbulence While it Lasts,” the association’s National President, Mrs Susan Akporiaye, ascribed the challenges to the reckless increase in the cost of Jet A1 and the selfish interests of some industry stakeholders and practitioners.
In his contributions, Yinka Olapade, the National Auditor of the NANTA, described externality factors, including the Russia-Ukraine wars, and internal factors, including the business model, structure, and management of the industry’s challenges.
Meanwhile, Rotimi Aiyetan, the South-West Zonal Coordinator of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), called on the government to investigate infrastructure development, airport runways, airlines, and their business models.
He then raised some posers: “Are they using the right business models? Are they getting the right funding? How easily do they have access to foreign exchange? “How are we sure they have the infrastructure needed to remain profitable and sustainable? “We have to look at leisure and tourism. If people do not move, there is no tourism, and this will affect air traffic.”
Aiyetan added, “We have to stimulate leisure travel and make it affordable to Nigerians.”
