Nigeria has granted a 3-year tax exemption and export incentives to intending tourism investors. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said on Wednesday at the fourth edition of the Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE).
Mohammed, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Grace Isu-Gekpe, said the incentives would ensure that the sector met the countryโs development expectations in line with the National Tourism policy of Nigeria and existing fiscal incentive regime for investment.
โThe government, in its efforts at ensuring that tourism meets the countryโs development expectations, has provided some actual and potentials incentives. โTax exemption for up to three years, export incentives, land at concessionary rate, import/export incentives and work permit to foreigners with specialized skill among others,” Mohammed said.
The minister stressed the role the sector played in improving the economy through harnessing the vast potentials in it, which he said would serve as a catalyst for diversifying the nationโs economy and job creation. He said that โprograms and policies to fully harness the countryโs vast tourism potentials over the next one and half decades are anchored in the National Tourism Development Master Plan.”
According to him, the lack of accurate statistics on arrivals and receptions, were major challenges confronting the tourism sector, hence the ministry with the support of the United Nations World Tourism Organisations (UNWTO) would implement a Tourism Master Plan.
He explained that the UNWTO, as a follow-up to it, sought the support of some donor agencies to assist Nigeria with funds for the execution of the project on the strengthening of National Tourism Statistical System and the Development of a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA).
โIn furtherance to that, the ministry is finalizing plans to inaugurate the Core team/a National Consultative Forum that will work on the recommendations of the UNWTO post technical mission project document.” Mohammed therefore stressed the need for a public-private partnership to develop touristsโ attractions and the sector, particularly in areas that have been mapped out in the Tourism Master Plan for the development of the country.
(NAN)
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