NTDC SETS TO UTILISE GOLF TO BOOST TOURISM

The Nigerian Tourism Development Association has concluded arrangements to use golf competition and training to attract tourists into the country.

The Director-General, NTDC, Chief Segun Runsewe, stated this at the just concluded International Travel Exchange in Berlin.

Runsewe said that NTDC was putting finishing tourches to the agreement that would enable the Berlin-based professional golf teachers to come to Nigeria to teach golf, using modern technology that makes playing golf an easy exercise.

Runsewe, who led a delegation to Berlin Mitte Golf office in Markgrafentstrabe, where the agreement was reached, described it as a milestone in the annals of golfing in the country ,noting that golf remained one of the world's greatest driver of tourism .

'This agreement is a milestone, because with this kind of training facilities, the face of golfing in Nigeria will change in its entirety. As you know, golf attracts tourists in drove from all over the world. So, Nigeria will gain a lot from the development of the game.'

Runsewe described the training facilities of the German professional golf teachers as second to none, noting that when they come to Nigeria, it would aid the development of the game.

'The teaching facilities here are world class and it would aid those who are interested in playing golf to learn the game without much stress. We don't have this kind of learning facilities in Nigeria, that is the reason I want to bring them to Nigeria,' Runsewe said.

Runsewe also used the occasion to commend the tourism potential of the game of golf, noting that golf lover's travel all over the world with the game , adding that Nigeria could not be different.

'Golf lovers follow their stars everywhere in the world and if we can attract world class golfers to Nigeria, it would have attendant effect on out tourism because they will stay in hotels and spend foreign currency in the country.'