The Federal Government says it will partner with the states and the private sector, to develop the nation’s tourism to attract foreign tourists and investors.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Tuesday in Calabar at the unveiling of the theme of the 42nd edition of the World Tourism Day (WTD).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports World Tourism Day is celebrated each year on Sept. 27 to foster awareness on tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic values.
The 2022 celebration being hosted in Calabar, Cross River state capital. has the theme “Retinking Tourism’’.
Mohammed noted that tourism the world over was recognised as a key contributor to job creation, sustainable economic growth, environmental Conservation and poverty alleviation.
He said the sector also acted as a catalyst for social equality and inclusivity as it provided women, youth and rural communities the means to support themselves.
The minister said the Covid-19 pandemic and its unprecedented impact affected the tourism sector globally and made it to suffer a near collapse resulting in loss of jobs.
He said with the recovery from the pandemic, there was the critical need to transform the tourism industry as the global travel and tourism sector slowly recovered.
” I have no doubt that the time is right to begin this transformation and to rebuild the industry.
“The good news is that given the resilience of the tourism industry and its ability to recover quicker than other sectors, there is the need for more inclusive and sustainable recovery
approaches to be adopted,” he said.
In achieving this, the minister said the Federal Government would partner with the states and the private sector in the industry to transform the sector.
Mohammed expressed appreciation to the state Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, for accepting to host the event.
He said it was a further demonstration of the governor’s zeal and enthusiasm for the development of tourism in the state as a tool for job creation, revenue generation and poverty alleviation.
The state Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu, who represented the governor at the ceremony, said the theme of the 2022 world Tourism Day was apt.
He said if tourism had been given adequate attention from both national and state levels it would have given the industry and the nation at large, a leap.
Esu, a former Minister of Culture and Tourism, said tourism should be accorded a stand alone in the ministry for more attention and development of the sector.
He thanked the Federal Government for finding the state worthy for the celebration of the 2022 Worlds Tourism Day.
In an official message delivered at the event, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s Secretary General, Mr Zurab Pololikashvilli, said the potential of tourism was enormous.
In the message read by Mr Fola Coker, the Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, the UNWTO boss added that each member-state had a share responsibility to make sure the potentials were fully realised.
He called on tourism leaders and everyone in the base of the broad and diverse tourism pyramid to pause, reflect and rethink what to do to develop the sector.
Other officials at the event were, the Directors-General of Nigeria Institute of Hospitality and Tourism, Nura Kangiwa, National Commission for Museum and Monument – Prof Isa Tijani and National Gallery of Art, Ebeten Ivara.
Others are the D-G, National Broadcasting Commission Balarabe Ilela, the General Manager, National Theatre, Prof Sunday Ododo, Artistic Director and CEO National Dance Troupe, Ahmed Mohammed as well as Directors in the Ministry.
