The Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) says it is embarking on the marketing of  tourist attractions in Kwara State, even as it prepares for its  forthcoming 8th Annual General Meeting (AGM),  holding in Ilorin, Kwara State capital. Mrs.  Ime Udo, the National President of NATOP,  disclosed this during a  virtual media briefing in Lagos. She said the AGM had been slated to hold from July 17 to July 20 in Ilorin, Kwara.

Udo  said the essence of marketing the sites was to attract local and  international tourists to the state and most especially, the ancient  city of Ilorin. According to her, the association is in partnership with the Kwara State government to host the AGM. “It  has always been our tradition to host our AGM in different states of  the federation to deliberately put searchlight on the tourism potential  in each state.

“Our 8th AGM would hold from July 17  to July 20 in Ilorin, Kwara state. So, we have planned to market most of the sites in Kwara state as local and global choice destinations.

“We will be visiting Sobi Hills, Owu falls, the University of Ilorin Zoological Garden and iconic places where local fabrics of Aso-oke are  made.

“We were in Ekiti last year. We did the same marketing for the state and we are set to do it again in Kwara state  this time,” she said.

According to Udo, states have  become eager to host NATOP AGM annually, which she said, is a testament  to the success of previous AGMs.

“Our 8th AGM would hold from July 17 to July 20 in Ilorin, Kwara state. So, we have planned to market most of the sites in Kwara state as local and global choice destinations.

“We will be visiting Sobi Hills, Owu falls, the University of Ilorin Zoological Garden and iconic places where local fabrics of Aso-oke are made.

“We were in Ekiti last year. We did the same marketing for the state and we are set to do it again in Kwara state this time,” she said.

According to Udo, states have become eager to host NATOP AGM annually, which she said, is a testament to the success of previous AGMs. Udo revealed the theme for the AGM as “Tourism as Catalyst for Progress, Peace and Partnership”.

She said the theme was carefully coined to address salient issues of insecurity and the need for tourism industry players to improve on collaborations.

Speaking further on the AGM, Mrs.  Bolaji Mustapha, Deputy President of NATOP, who also doubles as the Chairperson, Planning Committee for the AGM, said July 18 would feature a conference at the Banquet Hall, GRA, Ilorin. According to her, this segment of the programme will have a keynote speaker address important issues in the industry, as well as panel sessions.

“July 17 is for arrivals. For 18th, we will hold the conference. On the 19th, we will have the city tour of Ilorin while every delegate returns to their destination on July 20.“As tour operators, we want to encourage Nigerians to travel within the country. That is the reason we go extra miles to identify hidden tourism sites and promote them.

“During the AGM, we will have a tour of Ilorin. We will have each local government area showcase all their cultural and tourism endowments so that all tour operators present will be better informed on what to market.

“We are set to open Kwara state up for tourism,” she said.