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From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
The Oyo State Government has announced plans to regulate the travel and tour sector by taking action against unregistered agencies and operators in the state.
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, disclosed this on Monday during a press conference held in collaboration with the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) to raise awareness among travel and tour operators.
Speaking at the Ministry’s Conference Room, Secretariat, Ibadan, Dr. Olatunbosun emphasised the government’s commitment to sanitising the sector by ensuring all travel and tour operators in the state are duly registered. He highlighted that many unlicensed operators fail to comply with industry regulations, often leading to substandard services and hardships for the public.
The commissioner stated that the registration process would enable the government to maintain a database for effective monitoring and evaluation, ensuring safety and compliance. The sensitisation campaign is set to commence on Monday, March 24, 2025, and will run for a month before enforcement actions begin.
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“The purpose of this initiative is to inform operators, stakeholders, and the public about our plan to sanitise the travel sector through mandatory registration,” he said.
Dr. Olatunbosun further noted that tourism is a key pillar of economic growth under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration. A recent economic survey revealed a sharp increase in daily visitors to Oyo State, from an average of 1,604 in May 2019 to 18,459 in December 2024. Consequently, the number of tour operators also rose from 96 to 1,704 within the same period.
“Unfortunately, many of these operators are unregistered and fail to adhere to industry standards, raising concerns about service quality and security. This is why we are working with NANTA to conduct sensitisation and enforcement visits to ensure compliance,” he added.
The registration exercise aims to provide public verification of licensed operators, enhance industry standards, and improve security through a structured database accessible to law enforcement agencies.
Dr. Olatunbosun called on all stakeholders to cooperate with the initiative, reaffirming that enforcement actions will commence after the one-month sensitisation period.
In his remarks, NANTA’s Deputy National President (South-West Zone), Dr. Olatokunbo Dagunduro, commended the Makinde-led administration for its support of the tourism sector. He highlighted the infiltration of quacks and touts into the industry, which has affected its credibility and efficiency.
Dagunduro expressed NANTA’s full support for the registration and enforcement drive, stressing the need to eliminate unregistered operators and ensure ethical standards in the industry.
