Just as the quote by Geeta Iyengar “Knowledge has a beginning but no end” so was it demonstrated by the activity of the top leading body of tour operators in Nigeria.
Despite being an association made up of tourism professionals/experts, CEO/MDs of travel and tourism firms, they saw the need to get more training relating to their day-to-day business operations. This validates the saying that “how much knowledge one gains depends on their willingness to learn more.”
It was a great learning day with the Nigerian Association of Tour operators – NATOP, in collaboration with Nihotour Nig – National institute for hospitality and tourism at the tour operation management training held at Kapital Klub & Apartments Asokoro, Abuja on 17th Feb 2023.
This training is a national project organized by the tour operator’s body in Nigeria in order to upgrade new members to an expert standard and to update the old members with the latest happenings in the industry and modern ways of doing business.
The Abuja zone of NATOP has set the ball rolling while the Lagos zone will follow by next week
Nihotour is the best training institute in the tourism industry in Nigeria and the West African sub-region. The institute was established in 1988 and has been in the consistent business of training industry personnel. Nihotour was established with the vision to become a centre of excellence and manpower development that addresses the skill gap in the hospitality and tourism industry. Since its inception, the training institute has been on the mission to provide an innovative world-class manpower capacity-building framework, that enables the entrenchment of quality-driven professionals; meeting global best practices.
Aside from training, Nihotour also regulates and researches. The Institute has its campuses spread in various geopolitical zones within Nigeria.
As for tour operators under the umbrella of NATOP, this training was essential. The training covered 6 six module courses including;
1. Tour package operations
2. Tour package costing
3. Tour package pricing
4. Partnerships & collaboration among tour operators
5. ICT adoption in tour operations
6. Connecting the value chain for tour operation
The training which was supposed to be just the tip of the iceberg became elaborate due to the eagerness of NATOP participants to learn. Questions were all over and concentration was at its peak. Differences between costing and pricing, travel agents and tour operators as well as a tour guide and tour operators were clarified. The urgent need for the use of ICT tools to enhance business was emphasised while partnership and collaboration have been proven to be the watchword.
To further grace the occasion was the presence of the national president Mrs. Ime Udo who flew in from Lagos in order to cheer the participants.
Every bit of it was worthwhile and participants were fulfilled acknowledging it was a great move toward the right direction in grooming industry professionals and a perfect way to begin their business for the year.
All bonafide members, who registered and attended the training and are financially up to date will be receiving CERTIFICATES for participation and operation
The NATOP executives have promised that more such training and engagements with industry stakeholders will be a routine going forward.
