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| Mrs Olubunmi Ayodele Ozolua |
Mrs. Olubunmi Ozolua, General
Manager Links & Tours, in this exclusive interview with FLYNAIJA’s
correspondent speaks on the responsibilities of the government in the
travel industry and what separates her agency from others. Excerpts:
Links and Tours provides
a one stop – shop for your travel needs i.e. reservation, ticketing
itinerary buildup, visa advisory, hotels and meet and greet, for
individual, corporate , religious & educational institutions.
What are your comparative advantages in the increasingly growing travel market?
At Links and Tours, our services are
highly professional, personal & prompt. We do not only reach
customers through the electronic media but also offer come to you
personally to deliver the services when necessary.
What challenges do you think should be addressed by government in the sector in order to have a robust and more profitable service to your clients?
The government should through the Central Bank give the travel agencies (Registered
and IATA Certified ones) access to loans at lower interest rate to help
the business grow, just as the Bank of Industry (BoI) is doing for SMEs
(The agent is an employer of labor). Also, the government should
supervise the activities of the airlines in order to let agent get
maximum returns for their investment, a situation where airlines are
competing with the agent through their websites and approach corporate
organization with discounts that are not given to agents should be
discouraged.
So what stands you out?
What stands us out is our knack and keen
interest in educational and stress free travel. We believe in educating
people about the cultures of wherever they go to broaden their horizon.
This is why yearly we package tours to destinations in line with our
core objective. We have in the past organised tour packages to the UK,
Egypt, Ghana, South Africa, Dubai and others. We are also able to do
specific and tailor-made tours when necessary.
How has the business been since you commence operation?
The business has grown over the past 7
years from manually operated systems to electronically operated systems
that makes our service delivery efficient and more effective.
How do you plan to become a top travel management company in Nigeria?
We hope to draw up more marketing
strategies, develop more robust web presence to allow us reach our
clients both home and abroad with ease.
Tell us about yourself and your passion for this industry?
I am Olubunmi Ayodele Ozolua born some
50+ years ago with a B.Sc from university of Ife (now OAU), a PGD
(Management) from Lagos State University (LASU) and an MBA (management)
at the National Open University (NOUN). My work exposure in the service
industry over the years has actually prepared me for this present
position and i see this industry as where my experience would come to
play. The industry is wide and challenging and I love to take up
challenges. I am fulfilled when a passenger completes a trip without
hitch.
