The Director General of Bayelsa Tour ism Development Agency, Mrs Ebizi Ndiomu Brown, in an interview revealed that one of the greatest achievements of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson is the rebranding of the state even as she added that tourism is being used as a key tool to lift people, especially in the rural areas and semi urban communities, from poverty and help create new economic opportunities across the state.
Brown said the establishment of the Bayelsa State Tourism Development Agency, with the mandate to discover,promote and market the tourism potentials of the state, has helped to attract and enhance the development process in the industry. The agency, according to her, has redefined event management for the purpose of engaging in tourism promotion in Nigeria.
“The governor as a visionary leader had long envisaged the need to engage in the promotion of sustainable tourism development.And as such, the state economy has received a lot of boost due to the tourism events; hotels are being built consultants in the hospitality industry are being employed;young men and women are engaged in these hotels and Catteries/Restaurants; better perception of the state by foreigners; greater recognition by international bodies such as the commonwealth, WTO etc due to the events organised by the state; development partners are showing a lot of confidence in the administration of Governor Dickson”, she stated.
Brown said the state government was implementing a number of strategic measures to develop the state in readiness for the upsurge in the tourism sector.”
Sayelba Times 