Stakeholders in the Nigerian tourism, travel and hospitality industries Thursday converged at the National Museums of Unity, Aleshinloye, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital for the first Industry Business Symposium of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) to proffer solutions to the turbulent challenges facing the Aviation industry in the country.
Speaking at the symposium, themed, “Nigeria Aviation Industry Challenges: Surviving the Turbulence While it Lasts,” the National President of the association, Mrs Susan Akporiaye, ascribed the reckless increase in the cost of Jet A1 and the selfish interest of some of the stakeholders and practitioners in the industry to the causes of the challenges.
National Auditor of the NANTA, Yinka Olapade, in his contributions described externality factors, which include the Russia-Ukraine wars, and internal factors, which include the business model, structure and management to the challenges in the industry.
Meanwhile, the South-West Zonal Coordinator of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Rotimi Aiyetan, called on the government to look into infrastructure development, airport runway, airlines and the business models they were using.
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 that “We have to stimulate leisure travel and make it affordable to Nigerians.”
