FTAN urges prospective tourists to explore West Africa’s coastline
The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Lagos chapter, has urged prospective tourists to explore West Africa’s coastline.
Its President, Babatope Fajemilokun, made the call when he led members of the association on a boat cruise expedition tour of the coastal area of Lagos through Badagry to Porto-Novo on Saturday.
The team of 30 members explored the coastal areas to project and market the beautiful coastlines for global exploration.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tourism expedition began at the National Inland Waterways Authority jetty in CMS, Lagos.
Fajemilokun said the expedition was deliberately planned to expose the beauty of Lagos and Porto-Novo coastlines to practitioners for better marketing of acquatic tourism in the two countries.
“With the heavenly view of the waterways, the lush greenery vegetation around the lagoon, the fresh and slightly brackish water as well as the cooling and calming ambiance, aquatic tourism can be easily promoted.
“There are a lot to be seen here in Benin Republic that most people do not know existed.
“I am using this opportunity to call on intending tourists to exlpore these coastal areas just as we have done, we want tourists to know that travelling on water can also be fun.
“We also want to encourage Africans to travel within Africa to boost our economy.
“This adventure is also meant to serve as an avenue for members of FTAN to mingle well and reunite, I want FTAN Lagos chapter to come back on track, we have been doing this before, we have started again.
“I am happy, the turnout is impressive, our next outing will be better than this and I want everyone to look out for it,” he said.
The practitioners also enjoyed a city tour of Cotonou township, with visits to Place des Martyrs, Esplanade des Amazones and Club des Rois beach.
The Topa Market; Martin Luther King St.; Akpakpa environs and some other iconic tourism attractions were also visited.
Also, Mr Frank Meke, a tourism consultant, advised the Federal Government to take conscious efforts in nurturing tourism in Nigeria as observed in Benin Republic.
“It is obvious that the government of Benin Republic has prioritised grooming of the tourism industry by taking deliberate steps of building the needed infrastructure.
“The Nigerian government, however, needs to emulate such.”
The Tour Guide who conducted the tour, Anago Osho, commended President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic for improved infrastructural development in the country channelled toward tourism growth.
Osho said that Porto-Novo, capital of Benin Republic is located on the coastal lagoon at the extreme south-eastern part of the country.
He said the city, formerly known as Ajase, served as the capital for the Yoruba state of Popo as it later became the centre of the kingdom of Porto-Novo and flourished as a result of slave trade with the Portuguese.
Tunde Kolade, Vice President of FTAN, commended the tidy state of the tourism sites in Benin Republic and advised the government not to relent in grooming tourism.
“I am really impressed with the neat environment here, the organised and orderly manner people are conducting themselves, this is indeed a place to visit again,” he said.
Jamiu Talabi, President, Lagos Hoteliers Association, said, “I am so proud of our association, FTAN, I am happy to have been to these exciting places.
“In Nigeria, we have more than what can be found here but we have not exploited them well enough, we need to do more in Nigeria”.
