Nura Kangiwa, the director-general of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), has appealed to professional bodies in the tourism and hospitality industry to sanitise the sector for growth and development.

Mr Kangiwa made the appeal during a courtesy visit of the executive members of the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), led by the national president, Ime Udo, in Abuja.

He said the sanitisation aimed at registering professionals in their folds and guarding against the infiltration of quacks into the sector. 

“Practising in any of the professional arms of the industry, one does not only need formal training for a start, but it must be a continuous exercise to train and retrain. This is to be adequately equipped with the requisite skills for competency and proficiency in professional conduct in line with best global practices,” he explained.

Mr Kangiwa added that NIHOTOUR was available to offer quality training services to all entities in the tourism and hospitality sector.

“NIHOTOUR is ready to partner all professional bodies in the industry, including NATOP, for massive training of members. This is part of efforts to overcome the challenges of existing skill gaps in the sector, which is hindering effective, efficient and quality service delivery,” he stressed.

Mrs Udo said the visit to the institute was aimed at viewing different ways to explore possible synergy in manpower training and capacity development of its members.

She stressed that the Nigerian tourism industry needed synergy between critical stakeholders and key industry players in both the public and private sectors.

“I seek for a strong partnership with NIHOTOUR to strengthen NATOP, as a force to be reckoned with, in terms of ethical professional conduct and practices,” she said. 

(NAN)