The Nigerian government says it will leverage the forthcoming World Tourism Organisation, WTO global conference to showcase the country’s tourism and creative assets.
The country’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji
Lai Mohammed made the remarks in Calabar, Cross River State, on Tuesday in his
keynote address at the 2022 World Tourism Day Celebration.
The Minister said the global conference would also create a
viable platform to identify, develop and promote new models of stronger
partnership between tourism, culture and the creative industries.
“The (World Tourism Day) celebration is particularly
important this year because of the right granted to Nigeria by the United
Nations World Tourism Organisation, UNWTO to host the first-ever UNWTO Global
Conference on ‘Linking Tourism, Culture and the Creative Industries: Pathways
to Recovery and Inclusive Development,” ‘ he said, in reference to the
conference scheduled to hold from 14-16 November 2022 at the National Theater
Complex, Iganmu, Lagos.
Key Contributor
Alhaji Mohammed noted that tourism is recognised as a key
contributor to job creation, sustainable economic growth, environmental
conservation and poverty alleviation.
He said tourism also acts as a catalyst for social equality
and inclusivity as it provides women, youth and rural communities the means to
support themselves, in addition to effectively accelerating progress
across the 17 Sustainable Development
Goals (SDG).
He expressed delight that in spite of the devastating effect
of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism sector, it is now making a steady
recovery.
Quoting the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, the
Minister said international tourism got back to 60% of pre-pandemic levels
between January and July 2022, with international tourist arrivals almost
tripling in January to July 2022, compared to the same period of 2021.
“The pandemic highlighted the critical need to transform the
tourism industry as the global travel and tourism sector slowly recover – as
emphasized by the theme of this year’s celebration (Rethinking Tourism). 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 recovery quicker than other sectors, there is the need for more
inclusive and sustainable recovery approaches to be adopted,” he said.
While speaking on the theme of the 2022 World Tourism Day,
“Rethinking Tourism”, he said it aims to inspire the debate around rethinking
tourism for development, including through education and jobs, tourism’s impact
on the planet and opportunities to grow more sustainably.
Alhaji Mohammed said the annual observance was also
considered as a powerful advocacy tool to mobilise political will and
resources, address global problems, celebrate and reinforce achievements at all
levels and educate the public on issues of concern.
He commended the Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben
Ayade, for hosting this year’s World Tourism Day and for his efforts at making
the state and indeed Nigeria a preferred tourism destination in Africa.
“Tourism has significantly transformed the state into a
choice destination where most fun-seekers and visitors long to visit. Your efforts in sustaining and improving the
existing tourism assets in the state, particularly the annual Calabar Christmas
Carnival, which is recognised globally, is a great milestone in the history of
tourism in Nigeria,” the Minister said.
Highlights
The highlight of the 2022 World Tourism Day was a
world-class Command Performance by the Cross River Cultural Troupe and the
unveiling of the theme for the 2022 Calabar Carnival by Governor Ayade.
The Minister was accompanied to the occasion by the Directors-General
of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Mr. Folorunso Coker; National
Commission for Museums and Monuments, Prof. Abba Tijjani; National Institute
for Hospitality and Tourism, Mr. Nura Kangiwa and the General Manager and CEO
of the National Theatre, Professor Sunday Ododo.
Others are the Directors General, National Gallery of Art,
Dr. Ebeten Ivara; National Broadcasting Commission, Mallam Balarabe Illelah and
the Artistic Director, National Dance Troupe, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed.
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