The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC, sees the barring of Nigerian citizens from travelling overseas as an advantage to economic growth and a boom for the country’s tourism sector.
This comment was the view of NTDC’s Director-General, Folarin Coker, who spoke in Abuja on Wednesday during an interview with NAN.
He addressed the ‘Level of NTDC’s Preparation Towards the South-South Stakeholders Interactive Forum,’ where he noted that Nigerian and Dubaian Governments are at loggerheads, a form of diplomatic spat regarding the latter’s decision to deny Nigerians passage to Dubai.
According to Coker, the Dubaian government cited concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that Nigerians would have to understand that the country is only looking out for its citizens.
Meanwhile, NTDC believes that as long as Dubai Emirate Airline would avoid coming to Nigeria, citizens will also not attempt to exchange their naira notes with dollars for the sake of purchasing tickets to leave the country.
But this is the advantage the corporation is talking about when discussing possible benefits. Currently, the naira is selling for five hundred and ten nairas (N510) to one dollar, which means Nigerians would rather stay at home to appreciate the nation better than ever.
Though an NTDC official insists Nigerians have the rights to travel to the Arabian gulf under extant international laws, saying UAE’s bluff could save Nigeria the much-needed forex to boost the local economy.
NDTC’s Director-General said that restricting people from travelling abroad due to COVID-19 had boosted domestic tourism as most Nigerians no longer crossed out of the country.
According to him, Nigerians now look for alternative places to relax and spend their holidays or weekends. “There are no foreign holidays now, and we are all going to enjoy our local music, film, food, fashion, theatre and dance. I think COVID-19 has done the Nigerian tourism industry good,” he said.
Mr Coker said the NTDC would take the message of domestic tourism through technology to the upcoming South-South Stakeholders interactive forum in Calabar.
He hinted that NTDC would discuss more on the issue at their open forum with the theme “The Use of Digital Technology to Revamp the Tourism and Hospitality Industry amid COVID-19 and Security Challenges in Nigeria,” scheduled to hold between August 26 and August 27.