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By Aherhoke Okioma, Yenagoa
In view of the seeming knowledge gaps in the travel, tourism and hospitality sector in Bayelsa state, senior special assistant to the governor on tourism development, Mr. Tamaramiebi Abiri, has hinted on plans to come up with an executive training programme on policy and strategy in partnership with the state-owned International Institute for Tourism and Hospitality, Yenagoa, so as to create awareness on the economic benefits of the sector among top government officials, non-governmental organisations and tourism key stakeholders.
Speaking with travel journalists in his office in Yenagoa on Friday, Abiri explained that the proposed executive training on tourism policies and strategies is intended to strengthen the capacity of tourism managers from government, NGOs, and the private sector in a bid to equip them to perform their different roles, such as assessment, regulation, evaluation and policy implementation.
He noted that workforce capacity development in the tourism sector with special focus on vocational skills geared towards providing opportunities for job creation and wealth was the right way to go in the post Covid19 pandemic era.
Mr. Abiri, who holds a diploma in Travel Agency Management, advanced diploma in Tourism Management from West London College, Bachelor of Science in International Tourism and Hospitality Management from University of Sunderland, UK and a Master’s of Science in Marketing Management, from Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, lamented the absence of integrated tourism education and training opportunities for policy makers, planners, researchers, designers, architects, interpreters, conservators and tourism operators, pointed out that such knowledge gaps can hinder the development and growth of the sector in the state.
He said the executive training programme, which is first of its kind in the state, will bring together top government officials, tourism practitioners, NGOs and key stakeholders in the tourism sector to engage in thought-provoking discussions with a view to stimulating interest in the travel and tourism industry.
The SSA said the training which will provide a platform for sharing of knowledge among critical stakeholders on how to evolve strategic policy responses to the challenges facing tourism enterprises in the state, with reference to the adverse effects of Covid-19 pandemic, will also incorporate series of lectures, discussions and presentations from tourism experts, adding that the executive training would provide a welcoming forum in which both public and private sector tourism executives will gain better understanding of the latest trends in tourism policy and strategy.
“The programme is specifically designed to support tourism policymakers and managers. It aims at strengthening effective and responsive policies and strategies that will adapted to the changing priorities and concerns at the destination levels.
“Therefore, the overall objective of the executive training programme is to further deepen participants’ understanding of how tourism can benefit rural communities in such a way that will result in growth and development of the local economy, while at the same time creating fair and decent jobs for the teaming unemployed able-bodied youths in the state,” he said.
