The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) says the death of Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State is a big loss to Nigeria’s culture and tourism sectors.
Its National President, Mrs Susan Akporiaye, made this known in a condolence message to the government and people of the state on Friday.
She said that the late governor had great plans to reposition the state’s tourism sector.
Akporiaye said that late Akeredolu had mobilised frontline local investors led by Wanle Akinboboye, Founder of La Campagne Tropicana Resorts, to open the many vistas of cultural tourism endowments in the state.
According to her, there was a pending promise to host the executive members of NANTA to a farm tour and retreat in Akure early in 2024, which can no longer hold.
“We at NANTA mourn this great legal icon and tourism lover and we pray that God accepts his soul and consoles his family, wife and children, the people and government of Ondo state,” she said.
Akporiaye noted that the deceased’s legacies particularly his avowed commitment to transform the waterfronts of Igbokoda and the environs into maritime tourism haven should be sustained.
“NANTA also condoles Akinboboye, who is the face of cultural tourism in Ondo state and a key partner of the state in its quest to attract tourism investments and investors to the state.
“We wish the great people of the state to rise up in unity to give their late governor a befitting passage rite and to keep his dream alive,” she said.