The Federal Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, plans to provide training for tour operators and guides in Ekiti State as a part of the EcoGenesis Incubator Series.
The EcoGenesis Incubator Series is an idea created by the Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade-John.
This is a program for sustainable tourism business that aims to help people living in tourist areas, such as women, youth, and small local services, that are part of what visitors experience, to become entrepreneurs.
This is the second time they are running this program, and it is happening in all six of Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
The upskilling training will take place in Ekiti from March 31 to April 2, 2024, as per a statement by NIHOTOUR's spokesperson, Joesef Karim, on Thursday.
The Ekiti State Bureau for Tourism Development will be in charge of hosting the training and selecting local tour operators and guides for the program.
According to Karim, this training in Ekiti follows the success of a similar training in Makurdi, Benue State.
Ade-John emphasized the importance of the government providing facilities for training and upskilling of personnel in the sector during the EcoGenesis Incubator training in Ekiti.
The minister stressed that the skills and abilities of tourism and hospitality operators in the host communities, including tour operators and guides, are crucial to the overall experiences of tourists, both local and international.
Therefore, the government should offer facilities for basic training, retraining, and upskilling of personnel in the sector nationwide.
With the EcoGenesis Incubator Series, the government seeks to create a platform that encourages innovation and supports economic empowerment of citizens and service providers in tourism host communities and destinations.
The aim is to reduce poverty by taking advantage of the many tourism opportunities present in communities across the nation.
Nura Kangiwa, the Director General of NIHOTOUR, highlighted the role of tour operators and guides in driving tourism in destinations worldwide.
The industry actions of tour operators and guides play a significant role in influencing tourists’ arrivals and spending in the host communities.
Tourism products, both domestic and international, are usually developed by tour operators and guides residing in the destination.