BY: EMMANUEL CHUKWUMA, ENUGU.

The Nigeria Hotel Association, (NHA) has cried out over the activities of the National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism, which it said, if left unchecked would adversely affect the hospitality industry in the country.

This, the Association alleged is especially over the implementation of the NIHOTOUR Act 2022 which is against the nation’s constitution that places Tourism Services under a residual body.

The National President of the Association, – HRH Eze Dr. Patrick Anyanwu raised the alarm while briefing newsmen in Owerri on the Agenda for the National Executives and State Chairmen Parley

Anyanwu urged the Federal Government to halt the anomaly which he said is antithetical to the renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed, Tinubu led administration.

Apart from creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths and accommodating visitors across the global, Eze Anyanwu said that NHA is committed to reposition the nation’s hospitality industry to an enviable height.

He urged Hotel owners who are yet to register with the Association (NHA) to endeavour to do so at both the state and the national level without further delay.

“Our Association might be constrained to shut down Hotels that fail to register with us because we cannot continue to allow such Hotels to remained in business since experience has shown that some of them use their establishments to commit crime.

As part of measures to actualize this, the NHA Boss said that the Association will use the services of such security agencies as the police, DSS and the EFCC to whip recalcitrant Hotels into line.

“We are partners in progress with the government and we are law – abiding and we will not allow any of our members to embarrass us”.

In his contribution, National Vice President, North West, Ishaya Idi called for the collaboration of various government agencies with Nigeria Hotel Association, so as to serve the populace effectively.

He called on the government to ensure by that no hotel is established without the knowledge of the association who understands the rules governing the industry.