Abuja — Vice president Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Abuja, said the Yar'Adua led government acknowledges "the robust and commendable tempo of activities in the tourism industry, under the leadership of the Director General, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe," which according to him have raised the international profile of the nation's tourism industry.

He gave the commendation at the tourism village, the Corporate Headquaters of NTDC, while commissioning a modern multimedia studio and an outside Broadcasting Van, procured by NTDC for the promotion of the nation's tourism assets.

"Government has continued to watch with keen interest and satisfaction, the activities of NTDC since the inception of this administration. This office is indeed, a model of what a true tourism environment should look like," he said, adding that tourism holds enormous potentials for the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

The tourism sector he maintained, was crucial to the realisation of the current administration's 7-point agenda, through wealth creation and employment generation. He expressed his satisfaction with the "high level of decency, orderliness and hygiene" which are major hallmarks of the corporation's head office, while pledging government support for the innovations of the tourism body.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Senator Bello Jibrin Gada, described Jonathan's visit as a practical demonstration of the current administation's full and practical support to the development of the sector.

NTDC boss, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, said the visit marked a new dawn in the development of the sector, which is the world's highest employer of labour. The new OB Van, he said, is a fully equipped community radio, which signal will be received on the FM band and will be deployed to promote the nation's huge tourism wealth.