Minister canvasses tourism devt in Nigeria

Written by Austin Jacobson  

The minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, said that the nation needs to develop domestic and international tourism to improve the economy.

According to him, the development of tourism can increase the nation’s Gross Domestic Products. He added that Nigeria is blessed with diverse tourism resources and many natural endowments with great potential for robust development, marketing and promotion.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Mohammed said each of the local governments has some unique products, which if well developed and marketed, could present several tourist attractions across the country.

The minister emphasized that the tourism sector could also help to generate local revenue and foreign exchange through visits by foreigners.

He said the major challenges in the tourism industry are lack of awareness and the development of our capacity to generate revenue through tourism.

The media and its practitioners have major roles to play in educating the citizens on the importance and benefits of domestic tourism.

Mohammed said, “We are in the process of implementing the tourism master plan, and we have set up a steering committee so that we can maximize our benefit in the tourism industry.”

The ministry has set up an inter-ministerial committee on tourism drawn from the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism and officials of the ministry to discuss ways to improve the tourism sector.

He said tourism could enhance socio-economic activities and preserve the country’s natural and cultural landscapes.

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