*Measures apply to hotels, restaurants, fast foods, event centres, tour operatives, travel agents, tourist information centres, airlines, others

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In a renewed effort at reviving the fortune of the tourism sector in the country, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and National Mirror Committee on Tourism are reviewing standards on health and safety measures for the industry post-COVID-19.

Mrs. Chika Balogun, Committee Chairperson and Director-General, National Institute for Hotels and Tourism, who stated this in a webinar conference on Monday, August 3, in Abuja, FCT, said the draft standards would help to resuscitate the tourism sector, reports the News Agency of Nigeria.

The document will help the sector to pick up when the lockdown ends, said she.

Mrs. Balogun said: “The online meeting by the Committee’s Working Group on Tourism and Related Services is aimed at mitigating harrowing effect of COVID-19 on the industry.

“It will find a common ground for post-COVID-19 way forward in reviving the industry.

“The draft standards on Health and Safety Measures for Tourism and Hospitality Establishments-Post-Pandemic (COVID-19) Resumption Guidelines specified resumption requirements to comply with lives protection and business sustainability.

According to the Director-General of National Institute for Hotels and Tourism and Committee Chairperson, “the guidelines apply to Hotels, Restaurants, Fast Foods, Conferences, Meetings, Event Centres, Tour Operatives, Travel Agents, Tourist Information Centres, Airlines and Beaches, among others.”

Balogun further said that at a difficult period like this era of pandemic, tourism stakeholders needed to put all hands-on deck to surmount the current challenges.

She commended the committee members for their commitment and dedication to making the Nigerian tourism sector at par with its counterparts on the global scene.

Mrs. Chinyere Egwuonwu, Director of Standards Development at SON, said tourism sector had been adversely affected by the pandemic within and outside Nigeria.

“National Mirror Committee is expected to oversee a comeback by the sector through deliberations on the draft standards and the eventual implementation,” Mrs. Egwuonwu said.

Represented in the forum by Mr. Ayoola Ololade, SON Group Head, Service Standards, Egwuonwu said that SON was ready to work with stakeholders to revamp the sector to ensure that activities resume post-Coronavirus pandemic.