World Tourism Day: Ministers urges stakeholders to promote tourism products
Folalumi Alaran in Abuja
The Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John has urged stakeholders to actively promote and maintain the nation’s tourism offerings, emphasizing the need for both national and global visibility for these products.
Speaking during the 2023 World Tourism Day event in Abuja, she stressed the importance of taking tourism initiatives to local communities and uncovering hidden gems in various regions.
Ade-John, who was represented by the Director-General of National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, further called for collaboration among various sectors, including local, state, federal, international, and private entities, to achieve sustainable tourism.
She said, “ we must develop, promote and maintain tourism products”.
“The preaching, according to tourism, is the true essence of creating sustainable tourism in Nigeria.
“Achieving the vision of green tourism requires collaboration among local, state, Federal, international community, private sector investment and development partners.
” It is imperative for us to come together to pull our resources, share knowledge and innovate for a sustainable future.
”Our commitment to bring investment tourism means promoting sustainable practices at every level and we must ensure that the beauty we showcase today remains for future generations to enjoy,”
Earlier in his opening remark, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory Nyesome Wike, stressed the importance of cultivating awareness about tourism.
He highlighted the job-creating potential of tourism and called on stakeholders to actively participate in developing the sector.
Wike also emphasized the need for increased private sector involvement to unlock the sector’s full potential.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority, Folorunsho Coker, referred to the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s recognition of tourism as a global economic pillar.
Coker, represented by NTDA’s Director of Legal Affairs, Funebi Otu-Umondak, underscored the immense power and substantial investment required in the tourism industry.
He advocated for measures to simplify the process for investors in the tourism sector.
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Ishaq Salako, conveyed that tourism contributed 7.8 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product in 2022.
He highlighted the unifying and job-creating aspects of tourism, emphasizing its significance as a key investment.
Salako also commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the Ministry of Tourism, acknowledging its role in fostering sector development among practitioners and stakeholders.
