THE Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has achieved another international recognition for Nigeria, with the acceptance of the country as a destination member of the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP), a United States (US)-based international tourism body.

ICTP president, Professor Geoffrey Lipman, said this when he described Nigeria as the biggest market on the African continent.

“Nigeria is the biggest market in Africa with significant travelism promise. As a member of ICTP, the Tourism Development Corporation will have a great opportunity to build environmental management at the heart of its development strategies. We look forward to working with them and Nige-ria’s aviation and tourism community,” Lipman said.

Corroborating Lipman, the chairman of ICTP, Juergen T. Steinmetz, described Nigeria’s membership as a laudable initiative by the NTDC.

Reacting to the development, the Director-General of the NTDC, Chief Segun Runsewe, described it as “a worthy step in its effort at marketing and promoting the country.”

In an earlier press statement by ICTP, the NTDC boss had described the ICTP as an enduring partner in its quest to celebrate Nigeria.

“We continue to explore international market platforms to promote Nigeria and in ICTP, we find an enduring partner in our quest to celebrate Nigeria, while adapting to the latest practices in tourism development,” Runsewe stated.

Some destination member countries are Germany, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, US, South Africa, Morocco, Malawi, Mauri-tius, Mexico, India, Indonesia, Iran, Korea (South), Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Sey-chelles.

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Mister
written by seun olaitan, July 18, 2012

This story was read online by a foreign journalist, who in an e-mail to me, was very confused. No fewer than 50 members, including himself who is a tour operator, journalists, cities, countries, have accepted the request to be members of ICPT.

Now, it is being presented as an award , recognition to NTDC/Nigeia by Tribune newspaper in Nigeria. No, no. It's like please NTDC, be part of what we are doing. And NTDC wrote back and said Ok.

What happened is that a group of people based in the US, want to leverage their industry (tourism) to make ends meet. ATA, also in the USA, is doing it. They say they want to promote Africa tourism for Africans (laugh). Another group has seen the profit in the racket and began their own. No problem.
Perhaps, the way the story is presented is unaccepted to most peoples. It not an award or recognition to Nigeria. ICPT is still on membership drive. I understand a lot of people are frowning against this US thing.

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