The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) has honoured three distinguished personalities with its yearly World Tourism Day celebration’s signature awards, ‘Tourism Icon Brand Award.’

The prestigious awards were bestowed on the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Eno Umo; Dr Ganiyu Balogun Tarzan, President of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters Association (ATBOWATON) and President of the Nigeria Hotels Association (NHA), Eze (Dr) Igwe Patrick Anyanwu.

In his remarks, president of FTAN, Mr Nkereuwen Onung, explained the rationale behind its awards to selected individuals in the society, saying it is guided by the need to recognise the commitment and efforts put in over the years by the recipients.

Onung explained that the recipients have lifted the sector through personal efforts and are committed to the growth and development of the industry.

“The recipients may look ordinary to an average person watching, but for those in the industry, we know how much of their personal resources, efforts and time have been spent struggling to firmly establish their personal businesses or the tourism industry. And what we see today is only a testament of the body of work these recipients have committed into the sector,” Onung said.

Receiving his award for Tourism Icon, Igwe Anyanwu thanked FTAN for the recognition and also the Akwa Ibom state government for honouring the FTAN President, ‘their son’ with a position in the state executive council (SEC), just as he recounted his years of working to grow the hospitality sector of the country’s economy.

On his part, Dr Tarzan, who also doubles as the president of the Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters Association (ATBOWATON), thanked FTAN for the honour bestowed him, urging the Akwa Ibom State governor, Umo Eno, to work towards empowering boat operators in the state to enable them expand their operations.

“The Akwa Ibom State Government has created the Ibom Air for the air travellers, we want you to also create Ibom Waters so that boat operators can spread their operations to utilise the expansive waterways in the state.

Responding, however, the Akwa Ibom state’s commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh, said the government is putting necessary infrastructure in place to enable water transportation within the state’s territory, just as he explained that inter-state water transportation is not ‘in the hands of the Akwa Ibom State to determine.’

Receiving the award on behalf of the State Governor, Umo Eno, the commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Udoh while appreciating FTAN’s gesture, said the government remains committed to establishing Akwa Ibom as a destination of choice in the country, and the world, as the aim is to create a globally recognised tourist destination for it.

Earlier, Wednesday, the FTAN president in his welcome address at the opening of activities lined upo by his association commemorating the WTD in Akwa Ibom State, noted that the theme of this year’s celebration ‘underscores the pivotal role that tourism plays in driving sustainable development and fostering responsible investments in our industry.’

According to Onung, who also commended the Federal Government for carving out the Tourism Ministry from the old Culture, Information and National Orientation setup, the theme further highlights the urgent need for the tourism sector to embrace green investments that promote environmental sustainability and economic growth simultaneously.

“I appreciated the President Tinubu bid for creating two separate ministries; Tourism and that of Culture and entertainment economy. This makes the theme of this year’s WTD apt because these two ministries will separate budgetary allocation, which we believe will enhance investment and create jobs.

“Tourism can bring in the much-needed revenue to local economies, support job creation, and preserve cultural heritage. It can also help to promote cross-cultural understanding and foster positive relationships between people from different backgrounds,” Onung said.