NTDC Project Tourism organises lottery, hosts 100 foreign tourists

NAN-ELS-7
Lottery
By Justina David Auta
Abuja, Feb. 24, 2017 (NAN) The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) is organising  a lottery to sponsor 100 foreign tourists to Nigeria under its “Project Tourism“.

Mrs Adamma Afanga, the Assistant Director in NTDC Press Unit, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

The NTDC had in 2016 set up a 15-man committee to drive four major tourism projects in the country tagged “Project Tourism’’.

The programme includes Grand Tourism Award, Host Family Scheme, Global Road Show and Cultural Village.

The NTDC said that these programmes would be executed in collaboration with a private sector operator, Linas International Limited.

Afanga quoted Mr Ned Nwoko, the Project Tourism Chairman and a former Member, Federal House of Representatives, as saying that the lottery project was in line with its Host Family Scheme in 2017.

“The project is meant to engineer the growth of tourism in the country.

“As my own contribution towards developing tourism in Nigeria, I will organise a lottery through which I would sponsor 100 foreign tourists to Nigeria next year to experience the tourism potential in Nigeria.

“The sponsorship would include their tickets, accommodation and feeding, among other things that would make them comfortable during their stay in Nigeria,’’ Nwoko was quoted as saying.

Afanga reiterated the commitment of NTDC towards promoting tourism, strengthening public-private partnership and empowering the workforce to develop the sector.

“ Nigeria’s pursuit of economic diversification from oil after several missed opportunities in six decades since the discovery of oil in 1956 has brought to the fore many questions.

“The new question begging for answer now is how fast and far can diversification solve economic recession and other problems in the short, medium and long term?

“ Project Tourism is in the right direction at the right time with its lofty ideals of promoting growth and development of tourism and attracting investment.

“It also seeks participation in and expansion of the tourism industry in Nigeria as a key economic sector and foreign revenue spinner.

“ In line with this, NTDC as the apex tourism policy implementation agency will continue to effectively carry out its mandate.

“This is with the support of the public-private partnership and staff of the corporation,’’ Afanga said in the statement. (NAN)
JAD/COF/TA
Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Tajudeen Atitebi