President Muhammadu Buhari has signed Nigerian Tourism Development Authority Act, 2022, into law.

Director-General of NTDC, Chief Folarin Coker, said the Act repeals Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Act, Cap. N137, Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.

‘It will develop and promote Nigeria as a travel and tourism destination,’ he said.

Coker noted that the Act will encourage collaboration with states, private stakeholders, government agencies and international bodies, while the authority will regulate the industry with states.

He added: “The tourism alliance will create platforms for stakeholders to benefit from international leveraging, tax reliefs/ incentives, national and international publicity.

‘’In line with international best practices, every tourism-reliant country regulates the industry via a national body.

“The new tourism law ensures uniformity of standards for regulating Hospitality and Tourism Establishments (HTE). Nigeria cannot afford to have 36 standards for regulating HTEs…

“All states can have their tourism laws assented to by governors, irrespective of the new NTDA law. The new law provides for a Tourism Partnership Alliance, where willing stakeholders under the alliance can be regulated as well as benefit from the federal advantages, which the alliance has to offer.”

Coker said the tour operating company, under the law, serves as a benchmark to private firms and stakeholders and not as a competitor.