Miss Tourism Nigeria, Joy Ekekwe, on Tuesday urged hoteliers to participate in marketing Nigerian historical and tourism sites.

The 26-year-old financial consultant made the call during the 19th AKWAABA Africa Travel and Tourism Market, held in Lagos from Sept. 3 to Sept. 5.
Ekekwe said that marketing historical sites should not solely be left to tour operators, noting that every practitioner in the tourism and hospitality industries must be involved in it.
She said this was the only way hoteliers could add value to other value chains within the tourism industry.

She also explained that this would place Nigeria on the global map of tourism as nations begin to realise the ennormous tourism potential that Nigeria is endowed with.
“Nigerian hoteliers need to be patriotic to an extent that they intentionally market historical and tourism sites across the nation.
“Lodging in an hotel should go beyond m

ere relaxation, visitors to hotels can be encouraged to visit some historical sites, which would help boost patronage to those sites and improve the growth of inbound tourism,” she said.
Ekekwe advised Nigerians to always take pride in everything that stands as their identity, in terms of language, dance, culture, music and all.

She said Nigerians must also begin to appreciate the tourism potential the nation is endowed which include waterfalls, monoliths, crafts, caves, game reserves, among others.
She noted that it was high time Nigerians begin to see these endowments as rare treasure and deliberately market them to woo both local and international tourists.
Earlier, Bayo Adedeji, Chief Executive Officer of Wakanow Group, advised practitioners in the tourism industry to engage technology in their operations.

Adedeji noted that technology is important to selling tourism across the globe.
“Without maximising the potential in technology, operating tourism business could be chaotic, technology enhances the business of travels and tourism.
“Government has supported us enough, we need to engage technology in all we do to perform optimally,” he said.