By CHARLES IWUOHA

Enugu State Government says that the hospitality and tourism industries hold great potentials capable of pulling millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Ugonna Ibe, said this on Friday in Enugu in an address he delivered during the launch of the book: “The Principles and Practice of Hospitality and Tourism Management.”

Ibe noted that hospitality and tourism remained the fastest growing sub-sectors worldwide and their potentials were yet to be fully tapped in the country.

“The economic multiplier effect, as well as additional jobs and wealth; hospitality and tourism sub-sectors can create can be overwhelming and unquantifiable.

“Some first world countries and even some African countries are making it big through hospitality and tourism sub-sectors.

“In Enugu State, the government is making frantic efforts to harness and develop the hospitality and tourism sub-sectors through investment and Public-Private-Partnership drives.

“The government investment and attention to security of lives and property, as well as the general secured business environment are visible everywhere in the state; thus, creating an atmosphere of peace and secured state,” he said.

Earlier, the book reviewer, Dr Ferdinand Anikwe, said that the 395-page book dealt with the rudiments and basic management of a successful hospitality and tourism businesses.

Anikwe, who is former Director-General of Centre for Black African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), said that the book “remains the first and easy-read hospitality and tourism book in the country.”

“The book also x-rayed the role of security in the sub-sectors as well as solutions to security challenges in the sub-sectors when it arises.

“It is a must read for everyone – students, lecturers, administrators, practitioners and people with the prospect of venturing into the two sub-sectors,” he added.

The author, Chief Steve Odo, said that the book would lead to effective hospitality and tourism management in order to harness the abundant potentials in the two sub-sectors.

Odo, who is also the General Manager of Enugu State Tourism Board, said: “It has been my life-long ambition to open up endless opportunities for up-scaling revenue for both individuals, groups, businesses and governments through these two sub-sectors.

“Nigeria, especially Enugu State, is booming in hospitality and tourism; even as there are great potentials to increase the gains from hospitality and tourism if well harnessed in both the state and country at large,” Odo said.

The Tourism Board boss said that the book would serve as a legacy he would be leaving behind for stakeholders, students, practitioners and administrators of the two correlated sub-sectors.

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