The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has clarified its mandate as a regulatory body for personnel, practitioners, and operators within Nigeria’s tourism, hospitality, and travel industry value chain.
Its Director-General, Abisoye Fagade, made this announcement during a stakeholders’ meeting with the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
Fagade, in a statement emphasised that with the enactment of the NIHOTOUR Act 2023, signed into law, the institute was no longer just a training body.
“NIHOTOUR is now the foremost regulator of hospitality, tourism, and travel professionals in Nigeria.”
He explained that the new role includes registering, standardising, and certifying personnel across the sector to ensure professionalism, quality service delivery, and adherence to international best practices.
Fagade stressed the importance of collaboration to enhance the industry and called for increased foreign investment in capital development to improve infrastructure and workforce training programmes.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling NIHOTOUR’s regulatory responsibilities, with the goal of elevating Nigeria’s tourism sector to global standards.
Responding to Fagade’s comments, FTAN President Mr Nkereuwem Onung lauded the Director-General’s leadership and vision.
He acknowledged the efforts of the former NIHOTOUR Director-General, Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, in advancing the NIHOTOUR Act.
Onung also raised concerns about potential regulatory overlaps between NIHOTOUR and the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) and called for greater collaboration among stakeholders to support sustainable tourism growth in Nigeria.