…fostering tourism development in South South Region
By Mrs. Anthony Ememobong
The BRACED Tourism Promotion & Development Initiative (BTPDI) is an initiative born out of the vision of the already established BRACED Commission run under the auspices of the South-South governors, encompassing Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta States within Nigeria’s South-South region. The BRACED Commission’s objectives include facilitating, coordinating and promoting regional economic cooperation and integration among the South-South states.
Where as BRACED Tourism Promotion & Development Initiative (BTPDI), is a non-profit pioneering regional destination management organisation that collaborates with both public and private tourism entities to unveil, highlight, and harness tourism potential of the South-South region, it has strong affinity with the south South-South governors’ forum, the BRACED Commission.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BRACED Tourism Promotion & Development Initiative, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo and immediate past Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor of Bayelsa State on Tourism, underscores the region’s tourism prospects in his advocacy for concerted efforts to market the oil-rich region as a bloc destination globally to stimulate high tourist inflow through collaborative endeavours among stakeholders.
Operating in conjunction with tour operators, the academia, tourism professionals experts, and government agencies, BTPDI prioritizes the economic advancement and regional integration while leveraging the cultural tourism assets that are abundant in the South-South region.
Realising that the region has all the features for becoming an attractive tourist destination resources, natural beauty, wild life, flora and fauna, BRACED Tourism Promotion & Development Initiative has fixed May 22-24 for the inauguration of its pioneer executive council at the Ibom Icon and Golf Resort, Uyo, capital city of Akwa Ibom State to explore the tourism potential in the region, acknowledging the notable strides made in the state’s tourism sector under the Golden Governor, Pastor Umoh Eno.
Governor Umoh Eno’s commitment to the welfare of his constituents has fostered an environment of peace and tranquility in Akwa Ibom State, just as his Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh, has aligned himself with the government’s ARISE Agenda, where tourism is a key pillar of the socio-economic development of God’s own state.
Eager to host BRACED Tourism Promotion & Development Initiative inaugural ceremony in Uyo, Hon. Charles Udoh anticipates welcoming tourism stakeholders from across the South-South region to Uyo, the emerging pleasure tourism hub in the country.
Happily, BRACED Tourism Promotion & Development Initiative has already located its regional headquarters in Uyo, signaling a new chapter in the region’s tourism industry. The inauguration of the pioneer executive council, slated for May 23, 2024, will take place at the esteemed Ibom Icon and Golf Resort. The event will attract stakeholders from across the region.
Special recognition is extended to Prof. Bassey Esu, a Professor of Tourism, Hospitality and marketing at University of Calabar who is the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee for the inauguration of the pioneer executive council as well as the Vice Chairman of BTPDI’s Board of Trustees. Prof. Bassey Esu, a distinguished figure in the industry, is committed to ensuring the success of the inauguration.
Mrs. Ifiokobon Akan, the pioneer Director-General and CEO of BRACED Tourism Promotion & Development Initiative, who is also the CEO of House of Borah, has given the assurance of a hitch free inauguration, come May 22-24.
It will be recalled that Akwa Ibom state has become a renowned premier tourism destination worldwide, inviting adventurers and tourism enthusiasts to explore its offerings and participate in its award-winning tourism sector.