Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
General Manager of Federal Radio Corporation (FRCN) Creek fm, Yenagoa, Mr. Udosen Sunday has commended Bayelsa State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over the planned tourist information centre meant to draw public attention to the abundant tourism potentials of the state.
Mr. Sunday who made the commendation when he received the leadership of the Travel Writers Corps of the State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by its pioneer chairman, Mr. Piriye Kiyaramo in his office in Yenagoa, reiterated the urgent need to promote the rich heritage resources of the state, with a view to stimulate domestic tourism in the homogeneous Ijaw speaking state.
The General manager also lauded the foresight of state council to inaugurate the travel writers’ corps, noting that the proposed visitors’ information centre at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre will guide tourists visiting the state, saying that the initiative speaks volumes of the state council chairman’s tourism promotion drive.
He explained that visitors’ information centre has rapidly evolved over the past years to become more of an entry point of experiencing a destination, and to tell the story of the place or the brand it represents, informing that similar centres exist elsewhere, citing University of Lagos visitors’ information centre as a good example.
Also speaking, Head of production, Hon. Sweiyi Donald Iganran, described the travel writers corps initiative as a step in the right direction, as it will add value to the tourism industry in the state through the publications on tourism sites across the state.
Earlier, chairman of the Travel Writers’ Corps of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, had briefed the General manager of the function of the Travel Writers Corps, adding that the corps incorporates travel writers, bloggers, vloggers and photographers, including other media with a niche for sharing their experiences with an audience.
He said the corps members travel to places and share their experiences with various audiences through their publications to inspire people take trips to experience such places.
According to him, travel writing is has grown more popular over the years because of the large followership on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, attracting viewers with their appealing pictures and selfies at various tourism destinations.
He said the state council of NUJ has also approved the setting up of a tourists’ information centre to provide basic information about tourist attractions, culture, history, hotels, food and the rich biodiversity of the state, including heritage sites, historic places, festivals and other unique events.
It will be recalled that tourist information centre provides visitors with location information, attractions, hotels, tourist maps, and other items relevant to tourism, such as trail maps, camp sites, staff contact and restrooms, including in-depth educational materials and artifact displays about natural or cultural history of the area in question.
The chairman was accompanied by the financial secretary of the state council of NUJ, Mike Tayese, Teks Benson (photographer) and Mr. Jide Dominic of Government House News magazine (Bayelsa Strides).
