From Magnus Eze, Enugu
Executive Chairman of Enugu State Tourism Board, Rita Mbah has said that the target of Government was to make the state the preferred tourism destination for local and international tourists.
According to her, part of its strategy was to roll out a 12-month cultural and tourism calendar beginning from this year’s Christmas.
Briefing the press shortly after assuming office in Enugu, Tuesday, she declared the Board’s readiness to partner any relevant body in developing the state’s tourism sites and resources.
Explaining that the State Government cannot go it alone, she said that the Board will be reaching out to sector leaders in the creative, cultural and hospitality industries.
She also said that they will reach out to community leaders, traditional rulers, the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), the hotels as well as the retail and finance industries for robust collaboration.
Mbah stated that her main objective was to focus on destination marketing to reposition Enugu tourism by creating a positive destination identity for Destination Enugu.
Emphasising that Enugu was fully open for business, the tourism boss said they intend to partner locally and globally with festival promoters, production companies, talent management companies, fashion brands, cultural and movie festival producers.
She said: “We intend to animate our story to define our 042 brand as well as partner with broadcasters and media agencies to market our State and bring Enugu to the limelight.
“My intention is to drive collaboration with all agencies at the heart of our over-reaching strategy.
“So, we are poised to work with stakeholders across the value chain to achieve our goal while being resolute in our resolve to brand and sell Destination Enugu to the world.
“In this regard, therefore, we want to digitize our cultural heritage and tourist sites to become more discoverable and ensure access for local and international tourism.
“Importantly, this is an investment-driven government. We believe that tourism is big business. So, here at the Tourism Board, we are calling on both local and international investors to partner with the State to develop our tourist sites and tourism industry in general.”
Credit: Sun Newspapers
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