Aviation, Crucial to Tourism - Imoke

Air safety has been described as a crucial factor to the growth and development of the tourism industry not only in Nigeria but throughout the world.

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State made the assertion Tuesday while receiving the Presidential Committee on the Missing Beech craft 1900D Aircraft belonging to Wings Aviation Limited led by its Chairman AVM Salihu Atawudi (rtd), advising that the committee in its submission to the presidency should delve on the relevance of air safety in the country because of its place in promoting tourism which the state has cooperative advantage above other states.

Imoke noted that their assignment was important as it would go a long way to improve the aviation industry because air disasters involve lives, hoping that they would provide solutions which would help stamp out future occurrences, adding that the approach which the state government undertook was borne out of the negative effect the incident could have on the economy of the state as a tourism destination.

The Governor called for assistance to the families of the crew of the missing aircraft as a way of softening the impact of the effect which it might have on them, appealing that they should conclude` their investigation in a manner that would give a psychological closure to the families of the victims.

He disclosed that Obudu Ranch Resort and Bebi Airstrip both in Obanliku Local Government Area are parts of the State Tourism Circuit which have been developed to international standards and are paramount to government in its attempt to promote tourism.

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on the Missing Aircraft AVM Salihu Atawudi (Rtd) said the team had spent two weeks in the state investigating circumstances surrounding the missing aircraft which was enroute the state, adding that the essence of the investigation was targeted at gaining the confidence of the people in the nations aviation industry.

Atawudi commended the state for its effort to locate the aircraft and the various communities which they visited for investigation for cooperating with them in the exercise, explaining that the committee’s report when finally submitted would make practicable recommendations towards solving problems affecting the nation’s aviation industry.

Government House Press