Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Olayiwola Awakan, has called for community-based tourism (CBT) development across the country to unlock the sector’s economic opportunities.

He made the call on Wednesday in Abuja.

CBT is a sustainable tourism approach that involves local communities in the planning, management, and ownership of tourism to ensure benefits, such as economic growth and cultural preservation, remain with the community.

According to the NTDA DG, adopting a community-based approach in the nation’s tourism ecosystem will empower locals to participate in decision-making and bring interesting experiences for tourists, which will make destinations more attractive.

He said involving local communities in tourism was a viable strategy for sustainable rural development by creating economic opportunities for them.

He stated, “Tourism is community-based, and if you don’t carry the community dwellers along, including the traditional rulers and other community heads, you will not achieve your goal. Look at the Ojude Oba Festival; it has been sustained as a major tourist event because of the involvement of the community. Even the Osun-Osogbo Festival and Argungu Fishing Festival that attract tourists from around the world are thriving because of community involvement.

“There have not been any problems with these events because the local people have been involved, and they know that they have a responsibility to play. They look forward to it, they plan for it, and they put in their money as an annual event that should be held in their community.’’

He said CBT preserves and promotes cultural heritage by giving communities the incentive to protect their traditions and environment.

Mr Awakan also called for synergy among stakeholders to maximise the entire value chain in the sector.

“As a sector, we see how best we can work on public-private partnerships to ensure that we bring to bear the full potential that the tourism sector carries. President Bola Tinubu is so excited about this sector and is looking at it as a viable alternative to oil,” he said.

According to him, inter-agency collaboration is needed to ensure sustainable growth in the sector.

He said that as the nation seeks to diversify its economic mainstay, the tourism sector could serve as a viable alternative if adequate attention were given to it.

He stated, “If Mr president did not believe in the tourism sector, he wouldn’t have created the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy in the first place. Since I came in, I discovered that the sector itself is not speaking with one voice, as there are a couple of groups here and there. All the different associations and bodies need to work together to champion the course of this sector.”

(NAN)