The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has agreed to
design a two-year Plan of Action to promote tourism in Nigeria, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, has said.
Mohammed said that the decision was reached at a meeting he
held with the Secretary-General of the organisation, Taleb Rifai.
Mohammed said the meeting was held on Wednesday on the
sidelines of the April 19 to April 21 UNWTO Commission for Africa meeting in
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
A statement issued yesterday in Abuja on the meeting by the Special Adviser
to the Minister, Mr Segun Adeyemi, stated that UNWTO would work with the
government to boost the nation’s tourism sector.
According to the statement, Rifai invited the minister to
the organisation's headquarters in Spain during which he would meet with the
UNWTO, private sector investors and Spanish government officials.
The statement said that the visit would be followed by that
of the secretary-general to Nigeria for on-the-spot assessment of the
challenges militating against the development of tourism in Africa's largest
economy.
On his part, Rifai said that the UNWTO was delighted to have
Nigeria fully back in the fold.
``We are happy Nigeria is here. Nigeria is too significant
to disconnect from UNWTO.
``Happily, the new government in Nigeria has a good
reputation,’’ the secretary-general said.
The minister on his part briefed the Secretary-General and
his team on the efforts being made by the Nigerian government to ensure the
security of lives and property.
He said successes had been recorded against Boko Haram, as
well as on the upgrading of infrastructure.
The UNWTO is the leading international organisation in the
field of tourism, promoting tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive
development and environmental sustainability.
The organisation also provides leadership and support to the
sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies globally.
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