Makinde: Oyo State is primed to become West Africa’s tourism hub - ITREALMS

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Governor ‘Seyi Makinde has declared that Oyo State is on a definitive path to becoming the tourism capital of South-West Nigeria, citing a strategic shift from "personality-driven" projects to "system-driven" governance, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking on Wednesday at the International Tourism Summit Oyo State 2026, held at the University of Ibadan, Makinde emphasized that his administration has spent years laying the groundwork through infrastructure, security, and policy institutionalization to ensure the sector outlives his tenure.

Osun, FG partner on culture, tourism development - ITREALMS

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... FG to facilitate development of Okinni-Owala Dam

Governor Ademola Adeleke has secured a partnership deal with the Ministry of Tourism on the development of tourism potentials in the state, disclosing the readiness of his administration to harness the huge tourism assets of the state for the benefit of the people.

The partnership was reached when the Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-Johnson,Esq, paid the governor courtesy call in Abuja on Tuesday.

Andoni Tourism: Rivers’ Arts and Culture boss woos investors - ITREALMS

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The Acting Director, Rivers State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Dike Eleberi has asked investors to take advantage of the huge tourism potentials in Andoni local government in Rivers state and invest.

Speaking to journalists on the sideline of the official unveiling ceremony of the "third edition of Andoni Unity Festival" weekend in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, Eleberi described tourism as a huge investment standpoint even as he urged investors to harness its potentials in the State.

Ekweremadus: Telemedicine, avoidable organ scam & medical tourism - ITREALMS

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Whilst decrying the Ekweremadus’ saga, ITREALMS’ REMMY NWEKE examines local options as the recent feat of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia on its 11th successful kidney transplant comes to mind, moreso with growing technologies and broadband penetration in Nigeria.

11th kidney transplant @FMC Umuahia:
Barely five days after the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 60, his wife Beatrice, 56, and Dr Obinna Obeta, 50, were found guilty of organ trafficking in the United Kingdom (UK) and sent to prison, while awaiting sentence on May 5; a team of surgeons from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, have successfully completed its 11th kidney transplant in the south-eastern State of Abia in Nigeria, the God’s own state.

For the avoidance of doubt, the distance between Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, where the Ekweremadus hails from is about 102 kilometres (km), whereas the road distance is 123.8 km. Also, it would take some 2 hours’ 31 minutes only drive, which is about 144 (km) from Enugu to the FMC, Umuahia, along Aba Road. Whilst from Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria to London in the United Kingdom is a full day journey and could take, at least, 6 hours’ 30 minutes for a non-stop flight using British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France among others. And connecting flights could take up to 8 hours 55 minutes. The gap between Nigeria and UK or any other parts of the world could be condensed with deployment of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) through what is known in health sector as telemedicine.

Tourism & Technology Summit Africa returns to hybrid edition, focuses on designing Africa’s Tourism Playbook - ITREALMS

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In furtherance of the initiative to drive the digital transformation of the Tourism and Hospitality industry in Africa, Travel Technology Company, My Beautiful Africa, in partnership with Technology Mirror, a news technology company and winner of the Best Startup Online Supportive Media, 2022 are set to host the Tourism and Technology Summit Africa 2022, with the theme: Designing Africa’s Tourism Playbook: A Hybrid of Culture and Technology.

The Summit, which is billed to hold on 27th October 2022 at the Oriental Hotel Lagos from 10am -4pm is expected to host an array of speakers who would be speaking on various topics addressing how technology is driving processes in various sectors like Security, Aviation, Hospitality, Tourism, Travel and Health.

Eze applauds FG's takeover of Ebonyi's King David University, says to reduce medical tourism - ITREALMS

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A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemek Eze, has applauded the federal government takeover of the King David University of Medical Sciences, locted in Ebonyi State, reports ITREALMS.

This university was built by Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state, he said, is laudable, describing it as President Mohammadu Buhari’s parting gift to ndi Igbo.

Nigeria signs hosting deal for global tourism conference, promises trailblazing event - ITREALMS

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured that the 1st Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry, to be held in Lagos 14-17 November 2022, will be a trailblazing event.

The Minister gave the assurance in Madrid on Tuesday when he signed the hosting agreement for the event with the Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, in the Spanish capital.

Professional dancers converge @Calabar for 4-day confab on 'Dance, Tourism & Dev.' - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

The Professional Dancers and Scholars in the country are headed to Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State for a four-day conference, reports ITREALMS.

The conference billed to commence on Wednesday 4th of December would end on Saturday 7th, December 2019.

The conference, ITREALMS gathered would take place at the University Senate Chamber, University of Calabar, Cross River Nigeria, with focus on proffering solutions to some of the tourism challenges within the culture industry in the country.

The conference organised by the Association of Dance Scholars and Practitioners of Nigeria (ADSPON) is to be hosted by the Department of Theatre, Film and Carnival Studies, University of Calabar, has as its theme: "Dance, Carnival and Tourism Development."

The President of ADSPON, Prof. Jeleel Ojuade, told ITREALMS that Nigeria is yet to meet the developmental challenges in time, space and tourism development.

He also said that carnival as a factor in Nigeria's development efforts needs sufficient promotion.

"The culture Industry remains rich in resources for sustainable development of any society. The world is aware of this, and developed nations have tapped sufficiently from it. Nigerian cultures and all attending elements especially her dances are yet to meet the developmental challenges in time, space and tourism development.

"Carnival as a factor in our development effort needs sufficient promotion. Hence this conference themed: "Dance, Carnival and Tourism Development," is for stakeholders, scholars and practitioners to interrogate the dance art, carnival and put a lens to their contributions to the sustainable development of tourism in Nigeria's sociocultural and economic environment as well as scholarship." the statement said.

According to him, the conference will have Prof. AbdulRasheed Na'Allah, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, as its Keynote Speaker, while the Lead paper presenters are; Mr. YDO Yao (UNESCO's Regional Director in Abuja) and Dr. Bakut Tsawh Baku (The Director - General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR, Abuja).

In addition, he said they expected the Governors of Cross River, Ben Ayade and his Ebonyi counterparts, David Umahi, to grace the occasion, alongside the His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife and the Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Out V, Obong of Calabar.

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Improved security, upgraded infrastructure to boost Nigeria's tourism - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the present administration's efforts at improving security and upgrading infrastructure is a deliberate policy to promote tourism in Nigeria, reports ITREALMS.

The Minister, who stated this when he received the Secretary-General of the D-8, Mr. Dato’ Ku Jafafar Ku Shaari, on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja on Tuesday, noted that without the provision of security and critical infrastructure, tourism development will remain a mirage.

“Without peace and security, the best tourist attractions will be inaccessible to anybody. As a matter of fact, without peace and security and stability, travel advisories will actually discourage or even prohibit tourists from coming into those areas and the people don’t invest really in the areas where there is instability or insecurity. That is why the government has made it a cardinal principle to address the issue of insecurity in the country,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said in spite of the recent setbacks in the fight against insurgency in the country, the government has succeeded in banishing Boko Haram to the fringes of Lake Chad, from where they carry out cowardly attacks.

He said before the advent of the Buhari Administration, a large chunk of Nigeria’s territory, including 20 out of the 27 Local Government Areas in Borno State, was under the effective control of Boko Haram.

The Minister also said before the Administration assumed office, Boko Haram could stroll into the Federal Capital Territory to carry out deadly attacks, but that the reverse is the case now.

“Today after three years, we have had no single incident of any insurgency in Abuja or its environs,'' he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said President Buhari has succeeded in mobilizing regional support to ensure the comprehensive defeat of Boko Haram in the Sahel Region.

On the provision of infrastructure, he said the Administration has invested N2.7 trillion in infrastructure within two years.

“Your Excellency, you cannot have tourism without infrastructure. There must be roads, airports, power. Without these things, you can’t even access the tourist attractions and it’s on record that this government has in the last two years - 2016-2017 - invested massively in infrastructure,” he said.

The Minister assured that Nigeria is poised to take advantage of its membership of the D-8 to advance its tourism sector.

In his remarks, the Secretary-General of D-8 said he and his team were in the ministry to secure the input of the government towards the development of a strategic vision on how member countries can share experiences and knowledge on tourism.

“The purpose of our visit today to the ministry is to learn from the government and the ministry in all the activities in respect of culture and tourism and where we can connect as an organisation,” he said.

He commended the Nigerian government for its efforts towards the development of tourism, especially the provision of security and critical infrastructure as well as the introduction of Visa On Arrival for tourists. 

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FG partners UNWTO on tourism masterplan - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Federal Government (FG) is partnering the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in the implementation of the National Tourism Development Masterplan, reports ITREALMS.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this, saying its in order to optimally harness the country’s tourism potentials.

Speaking in Abuja Wednesday, when he declared open the Fourth Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition, organized by the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), the Minister made this disclosure.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that the programmes and policies to fully harness the country’s vast tourism potentials over the next one and half decades are anchored on the National Tourism Development Masterplan. In order to ensure its full implementation, the Ministry sought and secured the support of the UNWTO to assist in the implementation of the Tourism Masterplan,” he said.

The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Deaconess Grace Isu-Gekpe, said pursuant to the implementation of the Masterplan, the UNWTO is already seeking the support of some donor agencies to assist Nigeria with funds for the execution of the project on the Strengthening of National Tourism Statistical System and the development of a Tourism Satellite Account for Nigeria.

He said this became necessary because lack of accurate statistics on arrivals and receipts is one of the major problems militating against the development of tourism in Nigeria.

Alhaji Mohammed said the Ministry of Information and Culture will soon inaugurate a National Consultative Forum that will review the recommendations of the UNWTO Post Technical Mission Project Document, with membership of the Forum drawn from all critical stakeholders in the Tourism Sector, including FTAN.

He said the private sector is critical to the development of tourism in the country, hence the government’s decision to build an enduring framework for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to provide the required confidence for prospective investors.

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Nigeria safe for tourism says Minister - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the successful, two-week tour of cultural heritage and historic sites across the country by local and foreign bikers, under the auspices of the Latin America Motorcycles Association (LAMA), has confirmed that Nigeria is now safe for tourism and business, reports ITREALMS.

The Minister made the remarks in Abuja on Monday while bidding farewell to the foreign bikers at the end of the tour that took them to eight states covering four geo-political zones and the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT).

“From the report that I have received, this tour is a great success. It is also an attestation to the fact that Nigeria is indeed a safe destination for tourists and business people alike. Yes, there are security challenges here and there - and this is not peculiar to Nigeria. But our country is safer today than it was before the advent of this Administration in 2015, thanks to the political will shown by the Administration and the commitment of our security agencies,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the bikers who crisscrossed Nigeria by road all returned to Abuja, the starting point of the tour, safe and sound and will be in a better position to tell the world the situation in the country.

“They are not armchair analysts or critics. They are practical men and women who zoomed across the country on their power bikes. No one can tell the story better than them. And the feedback we have received is overwhelmingly positive,” he said.

The Minister said the tour, which he flagged off in Abuja on 23rd of October 2018, took the bikers to Niger, Kogi, Enugu, Cross River, Rivers, Edo, Oyo and Lagos as well as the FCT.

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Study: Autonomous vehicles to shape future urban tourism - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) have been discovered with the capabilities to shape future urban tourism, reports ITREALMS.

In the first study of its kind, published in the Annals of Tourism Research, academics from the University of Surrey and the University of Oxford have examined how Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) may have a substantial impact on the future of urban tourism.

When we think of automated vehicles it seems to be a topic that sits firmly in science fiction, from cars with character in The Love Bug (1969) and Knight Rider (1982) to more recent practical representations in Minority Report (2002). However, according to the new research by Professor Scott Cohen (University of Surrey) and Dr Debbie Hopkins(University of Oxford), CAVs may be spotted on our roads as soon 2025 and could lead to far-reaching impacts on urban tourism.

The conceptual paper entitled Autonomous vehicles and the future of urban tourism imagined the impact of AVs in future urban tourism and focuses on the pros and cons of these impacts with regards to the transformation of urban space, the rise of autonomous taxis, and changes to city sightseeing and hospitality in the urban night.

Potential benefits include reduced traffic congestion and emissions, improved foreign car hire processes, reduced parking requirements and cheaper taxi fares. AVs may impact other industries in radical ways too, such as Amsterdam’s Red Light District, which could become operated out of moving AVs, and restaurants and hotels may encounter new competition in the form of AV dining cars and passengers sleeping in their moving vehicles.

AVs are also the subject of many concerns. More time spent in cars on longer journeys could facilitate greater urban sprawl and increase car dependency. AVs may reduce demand for train travel, coach tours, public transport and driven taxis - all resulting in future job losses. The potential for terrorism facilitated by AVs also raises genuine security fears.

Professor Cohen, Head of Tourism and Transport at Surrey’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, said: “This groundbreaking study will benefit urban planners, policy makers and the tourism and hospitality industries, who will face a range of threats and opportunities as AVs begin to reach the mass market in the coming decade.

“The visitor economy will be gradually transformed if AVs become fully automated and mainstream, leading to a future where hordes of small AVs could congest urban attractions, hop-on hop-off city bus tours may go out of business altogether, motorways between cities could fill at night with slow-moving AVs carrying sleeping occupants and commercial sex in moving AVs becomes a growing phenomenon.”

The paper calls for future work that provides context-specific analyses that may reveal alternative ways of thinking about AVs for urban tourism. Its release coincides this week with the World Travel Market and European Tourism Day on 7 November and acts as a timely reminder of the rising importance and significance of AVs in tourism to industry and policy makers.

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WES2018: Experts recommend special focus on agric, tourism, solid minerals, ICT - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Experts from the academics, telecommunications and manufacturing sectors have strongly recommended that Nigeria should deliberately embark on the exploration of its potentials through the enhancement of agricultural value chain, massive investment in tourism, development of the solid minerals sector and embrace innovation and technology as its new sources of economic strength, reports ITREALMS.

Presenting the lead paper on Tuesday at the WorldStage Economic Summit 2018 with the theme: New Sources of Economic Strength to Make the future Happen, Dr. Babatunde Wasiu Adeoye, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of Lagos said, “The agricultural sector remains a viable option for Nigeria in which it can produce her total demand internally without necessarily importing any of her final produce.”

Represented by Mr Onyebuchi Iwegbu, at the forum which took place at the Event Centre, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Lagos, he listed some challenges that are being faced in the agriculture sector to include high cost of generating power, poor and limited storage facilities, bad road networks, Illegal food importation, inadequate market information on availability of products Land grabbing otherwise called illegal acquisition of land, inadequate skilled personnel, poor irrigation system, and high cost of acquiring processing equipment and agrochemicals, but noted that by finding a strategic way of ameliorating them might become a testimony for the country to experience the replica of what Brazil experienced in the past three years.

“In 2012, Brazil was able to significantly enhance their value chain in agricultural production and this led to the generation of 16 million new jobs and a producer of global agro processed commodities which includes sugar, ethanol and oranges,” he said.

“Their value chain developed due to the improvement in the availability of seeds, soil fertility, better use and provision of technology and finally, improvement in research and innovations in the sector.”

On tourism, he said its role in the economy cannot be undermined as it can be seen as a pulsating power house with deep and layered cultures and environment.

He said, “Tourism has the potentials of stimulating output and as such act as a strong force to stimulating and sustaining growth.”

He quoted Lonely Planet which in year 2016 reported that the tourism industry contributed about $7.6 trillion to the world economy thus accounting for about 10 per cent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Nigeria tourism contributed about $1.5 billion, a hope to anchor on in terms of future output expansion sector dependants. For the sector to become a centre of attraction and growth driver, several actions must be taken by relevant stakeholders in achieving this,” he said.

He cited the example of how United Arab Emirates (UAE) used technology to transform their cities making it a centre for world tourists, saying Nigeria already has the landscape and other climatic conditionings in making her a centre of attraction for tourist.

“However, with massive investment in technology, hotels can better market their services and tourist centres can effectively enhance their centres,” he said.

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Pix: Cross section of panel at the WES2018

‘How Visa-On-Arrival boosts Nigeria’s tourism’ – ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the Federal Government's Visa-On-Arrival Policy has started yielding fruits, especially in the tourism sector which has been boosted by the policy, reports ITREALMS.

Receiving members of the Latin America Motorcyclists Association (LAMA) in Abuja, who were in Nigeria for a tour of heritage sites and other tourist attractions in the country, Alhaji Mohammed pointed out the efficacy of visa on arrival.

''All our visitors here today got visa on arrival. That shows that the Federal Government's visa-on-arrival policy is working,'' he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the presence of the international bikers in Nigeria is a testimony to the fact that the Administration's quest to promote the country's cultural heritage and tourism sites is yielding fruits.

''As you tour Nigeria, under the 'Rediscover Heritage Bikers Tour of Nigeria', and visit historical heritage sites, you beam the searchlight on those sites for the world to see.

“You will see these heritage sites for yourselves as you travel through our culturally-rich and diverse nation. These sites include museums, monuments, homes of national heroes and other tourist sites,”
he said.

The Minister therefore enlisted the support of the bikers to become Nigeria's heritage ambassadors by spreading the news of the country's hidden treasures and their experiences while in the country.

In his remarks, the President of LAMA, Mr. Mario Nieves, said the group, which consists of members from 24 countries, is in Nigeria to rediscover the country’s culture and heritage as well as promote unity
among the human race.

“We are just a group of humble motorcyclists that decided to arrange and create some type of impact in our society. We believe that it is more important to be human than it is to be black or white or oriental
or Indian, because we belong to the human race and we believe that we are all one people,” he said.

Mr. Nieves said Nigeria has set a good example for them in humility, respect and hospitality, and that when they return to their respective countries, they will spread the good news about Nigeria.

While giving a background on the tour, the Acting Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr. Abdulkarim Kadiri, said the bikers, from Brazil, US and Mexico, among others, and their Nigerian counterparts will tour 11 states of the Federation in order to rediscover Nigeria and its rich cultural heritage.

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Minister demands MDAs' cooperation for tourism development

ITREALMS:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called for cooperation among the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the generation of relevant data that will assist in making policies and planning decisions for the development of tourism in Nigeria, reports ITRealms.

The Minister made in call in Abuja on Monday when he received the Technical Consultant of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) on Tourism Statistics, Mr. David McEwen, on a courtesy visit to his office.

Mr. McEwen is in Nigeria to meet with the various MDAs of government with a view to developing a framework for the generation of data in the nation’s tourism industry.

“Tourism, as an industry, and the other sectors are interdependent, so it’s not by coincidence today that while Mr. McEwen is here, he is going to interact with at least ten other parastatals or departments and ministries, including the National Bureau of Statistics; the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation; the Nigeria Police Force; the Central Bank of Nigeria; the Nigerian Immigration Service; the National Park Service; the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria; the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria and the National Population Commission and other bodies,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He said the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, which develops policies for the tourism industry, does not generate the data required for policy formation and planning for the industry, hence the need for cooperation and coordination of the relevant MDAs.

“The coordinating role of the ministry is of great importance and is for us to ensure that we persuade and get the cooperation of all the other different actors in the industry for us to be able to plan and develop,'' the Minister said.

According to him, most of the agencies that generate the data are not under the purview of his ministry, but their input remains paramount in order to develop tourism in Nigeria.

In his remarks, The Technical Consultant on Tourism Statistics of the UNWTO, Mr. McEwen, said tourism is one sector that depends largely on other sectors to succeed.

“I don’t think there is any industry that needs coordination and cooperation like tourism. It’s one part of it that the airlines can’t do without accommodation and the accommodation can’t do without the airlines,” he said.

The UNWTO Consultant said from the experience he gathered from other countries, statistics generated by other agencies and organs play a vital role in attaining the objective of tourism development, hence the need for the government to play a vital role in the development of synergy for tourism to thrive in Nigeria.

Mr. McEwen said there will be a Technical Workshop on Tourism Statistics for stakeholders on the way forward, during the UNWTO/CAF Meeting to be hosted by Nigeria in Abuja in June.

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Nigeria, UNWTO sign MoU on African Tourism Ministers' meeting

ITREALMS:

Nigeria and the UN World TourismOrganization (UNWTO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the hosting of the 61st UNWTO Commission for Africa (UNWTO CAF) Meeting 4-6 June 2018 in Abuja, reports ITRealms.

The Minister of Information andCulture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, signed for the Nigerian Government while UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili signed for the global tourism body at a ceremony at the UNWTO Headquarters in the Spanish capital.

The agreement, the signing of which was witnessed by the Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Her Excellency Susan Aderonke Folarin, among others, contained the conditions for organizing the meeting as well as other details.

Speaking at the signing, the Minister said the Nigerian Government plans to use the opportunity of hosting the meeting to showcase the best of Nigeria to the world, saying Nigeria has comparative advantage and has taken the world by storm in the area of music, movies, theatre and other aspects of the Creative Industry.

He thanked the UNWTO and its member states for their confidence in giving Nigeria the hosting right for the meeting, and assured that the country would host a top class event.

''Nigeria does not take the confidence for granted and will not disappoint. In this regard, the meeting's main organizing committee, as well as the sub-committees, are leaving no stone unturned to stage a highly-successful meeting.

''All delegates coming to Nigeria for the meeting are assured of Nigeria's legendary warm hospitality and an exposition of the country's sight and sound. We will showcase the best of our entertainment industry that has taken the world by storm,'' Alhaji Mohammed assured.

The Minister said the hosting of the meeting is coming at a time that Nigeria has become a top destination for investors, especially with the Nigerian stocks having risen 12% this year, the highest globally, and the fact that Nigeria has moved up 24 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking, earning a place on the List of Top 10 in the world.

He also said Nigeria has started implementing visa on arrival for a certain category of foreign visitors, a development that he assured will impact positively on the country's tourism sector.

Welcoming the Minister earlier, the UNWTO Secretary-General said the organization would assist Nigeria to develop and showcase its tourist attractions.

''We are glad we are coming to Nigeria in the summer. It is a good opportunity to showcase Nigeria,'' he said, while urging the Minister to help identify Nigerian celebrities who can be appointed as the UNWTO's ambassadors of tourism.

The delegations of the Minister and the Secretary-General later met to review the agenda of the 61st CAF Meeting, the UNWTO's forthcoming Technical Support Mission to Nigeria and other issues related to tourism development in Nigeria.

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Pix: L-R - The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and the UNWTO's Secretary-General, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, signing the Agreement on Nigeria's hosting of the 61st CAF Meeting, in Madrid, Spain, on Friday

Nigeria sets up LOC on African Tourism Ministers meeting

ITREALMS:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has inaugurated the planning committee for the 61st Meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation/CAF taking place in Abuja, Nigeria, 4th-6th June 2018, reports ITRealms.

The Minister, who performed the ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, charged members of the committee to ensure the success of the event.

"Today's inauguration kick-starts our preparation for the hosting of the (UNWTO/CAF Meeting). The task ahead of us is enormous, but with the quality membership of the Planning Committee, we are up to the task and we will host a successful event,'' he said.

"You have been selected based on your knowledge and expertise in content, logistics and planning. Your role is to execute a successful event with professional inputs and assistance from the Ministry and the UNWTO. I have no doubt that you will take your assignments very seriously," Alhaji Mohammed said.

The Minister also said in a press statement made available to ITRealms by Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Segun Adeyemi the hosting right of the event, which was given to Nigeria, has clearly demonstrated the confidence of the CAF member states and the UNWTO in the country.

He said the highlight of Nigeria's relevance and acceptance by the Organization, within two years of its return after a period of absence, was further shown in his election as a Vice Chairman of the UNWTO General Assembly at an election held during the 22nd session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu, China, in September 2017.

Alhaji Mohammed said the UNWTO meeting will afford the country the unique opportunity to project its image as a safe and desirable destination for leisure and business as well as promote the country’s tourism products and services.

He said the meeting will also provide a platform for tourism stakeholders to interact with their counterparts from other countries, generate foreign exchange through accommodation in hotels, airfares and souvenirs purchased by foreign delegates, create direct and indirect employment, thereby alleviating poverty, and provide the platform for the training for public and private sector tourism officials.

Membership of the planning committee cuts across the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Capital Territory, extra-ministerial departments and agencies as well as the private sector.

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Sri Lanka: Asian wonders set to lead tourism world

Travelogue @ITRealms: 

When the tourism and hospitality world gathered in Dubai, UAE for the Arabian Travel Market, participants at the high profile event were unanimous that the annual event provides them enabling environment to advance their hospitality businesses.

One of such participants was Sri Lanka. On its 14^th consecutive outing since 2003 at an expo which witnessed a gathering of the best in hospitality and tourism businesses, the Asian country’s team was led by her Assistant Director Tourism Promotion Bureau, Mr. Ajantha Rathnayake, in an encounter with KASIE ABONE, who attended the expo recently, explained why tourists should look to Sri Lanka is the global destination of choice and why the country is tagged Wonders of Asia.

Arabian Travel Market offered the Asian tourism and hospitality world an opportunity to showcase their travel and tourism potentials not only to that region but to the rest of hospitality world. And so the A list event had countries from different parts of the world in attendance showcasing innovations in their various hospitality businesses. 

One of such exhibitors was Sri Lanka. With screaming, ambitious tagline “Wonder of Asia” caught the attention of this reporter who also attended the expo. Why on earth tiny Asian island should make such bold claim, our correspondent wondered. The Assistant Director in the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, an arm of the Ministry of tourism Development and Christian religious Affairs, Mr. Ajantha Rathnayake, was on hand at the exhibition stand to provide answers to our curious minds.

A paradise of culture, wild life and outdoor adventure, Rathnayake explained that Sri Lanka adorned its tag because of its “pristine beaches, lush tropical nature, rich cultural heritage, diverse wild life and unlimited options for sports and outdoor activities.

Giving further insight into the exotic island, he said “Sri Lanka is consisted with millions of natural advantages by having the highest bio diversity in Asia backed by a strong culture, historical artifacts, exotic beaches, green environment and friendly people. As an island, Sri Lanka tourism promotes authenticity, compactness and diversity as its unique selling propositions.”

All these combine to make Sri Lanka an ideal destination for a perfectly balanced holiday of relaxation, leisure and excitement. These features no doubt accounted for the achievements recorded by the country’s tourism industry in 2016 when it recorded the highest tourist arrivals in history. With over two million visits accounting for 22.1 percent  rise compared to 2015 figure of about one million seven hundred visits, the industry has continued to experience a steady growth rate year on year since 2011 with 855, 975 visits. With an estimated growth rate of 26 percent, the beautiful island which is home to both the blue whale, Asian elephant, several national parks and eight UNESCO World Heritage sites Sri Lanka is positioned to hit 2.4 million visits this year.

To achieve this mark, Rathnayake explained that the Sri Lankan government is committed to diversifying tourism offering through efficient connectivity across the island, enhancement of products and elevating service standards. This is in addition to the introduction of a new zonal development to tourism with special emphasis on preservation of cultural, religious and natural resources.  

As other nations in the region are also upping their game as an alternative revenue stream Sri Lanka is not resting on its oars. To this end the Assistant director said his country has devised an eight point agenda to make the country remain highly competitive as a destination of choice.

Some of the unique selling points which the country continues to build on include as a destination strategically located at the cross roads of both East and West routes which serves as the point of entry to South Asia, major international lines like Emirates, Qatar Airway, Oman Air, Sri Lankan, Etihad, etc  operate frequent flights from Sri Lanka to major cities in the Middle East; the island offers a safe destination to tourists across all parts of the country as well as easy access to visa which is available online; while the Eastern part of the country offers an exciting experience in the finest of beaches, surf and whale watching, the North boasts of historical temples, beaches while the central and Southern parts wows with games sanctuaries.

For a business minded Nigerian traveler, the country presents not only exotic experiences but also a preferred destination for global trade. For instance Sri Lanka is known for preferred ethical sourcing capital of the world for apparel with key apparel companies. The country is also noted for ethically manufactured cleanest tea as per ‘Kyoto Protocol’ and a global leader in black tea. 

Additionally, Sri Lanka is known as the world’s blue sapphire capital with Princess Diana’s wedding ring generous Ceylon sapphire. It also reputed to supply 90 percent of the global demand for cinnamon.

With the development of high mobility networks and intense focus on creating a business friendly especially with the tourisms ‘One Stop Shop’(a centralized promotion and facilitation centre created to assist potential tourism investors in investing a minimum of $2 million) environment, there is no doubt that Sri Lanka is ready to take on the hospitality and tourism world.

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Pix: Assistant Director Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Mr. Ajantha Rathnayake presenting a gift to Kasie Abone at Sri Lanka stand during Arabian Travel Market held in Dubai recently

Culture, tourism key to addressing lean resources – Lai Mohammed

ITRealms:

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described culture and tourism as keys to addressing the challenges posed by lean resources and unemployment in the country, reports ITRealms.

He said this at the Third Festival Colloquium of Lagos at 50 at the weekend, saying at this period of tough economic challenges, caused by the steep in global oil prices, Nigeria has no choice than to look for other viable means of earning needed resources for developmental purposes and to generate employment for its teeming youths.


''In this search for a new economic paradigm, tourism, arts and culture have been identified as the most viable sector of the economy to explore. Culture drives tourism, and both are good for creating jobs, reducing crime and diversifying the economy, three of the cardinal programs of the Buhari Administration,'' he said.

Mohammed also said the potentials of the sector in boosting the country's economy had been attested to by many international agencies, including the British Council whose 2013 report of the Lagos Pilot Study on the ‘Mapping of Nigerian Creative Industries revealed that the creative businesses surveyed in the mapping exercise contributed  N2,547,300,490.26 during the reference period, with 61% of the total Gross Value Added (GVA) derived from the film industry alone. Fashion and music contributed 26% and 13% respectively.

Nigeria, he noted, being richly endowed with globally-recognized sites and monuments, thus imperative for the country to convert its tourist sites to tourist attraction and bring the culture and tourism sector to the mainstream of the economy.

The Minister said the government is working with the World Tourism Organization, the UN agency charged with the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally-accessible tourism, to turn around the fortunes of the sector.

''Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the foundation has been laid and the ground work done. It is time for all States of the Federation to pick up the gauntlet and explore the vast tourism potentials available to us and by so doing, improve our economy and provide employment,'' he said.

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UN WTO outlines measures to leverage tourism in Nigeria

ITRealms:

The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has outlined a number of measures, including technical assistance, capacity building and revision of the Nigeria's Tourism Master Plan, as part of efforts to ensure the development of tourism in the country, reports ITRealms.

Announcing these measures at the end of a two-day meeting between the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and UNWTO in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday, he expressed Nigeria’s interest in hosting the 60th meeting of the global Agency's Commission for Africa in 2018, in order to attract global attention to tourism in the country.

He also disclosed that the global agency is widening access to e-library for Nigerian tourism officials and offering support for relevant tourism institutions and agencies, stressing that under the UNWTO's technical assistance programme, Nigeria will be assisted in the area of data collection for the elaboration of tourism statistics, rural tourism development, hotel classification and in designing programmes to create awareness for tourism.

Focus in the area of capacity building, the minister said will be on the empowerment of women in tourism through the centres being planned for the six geo-political zones and the training of festival managers, among others.

ITRealms gathered that UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai, led the agency's delegation to the meeting, and assured that the implementation of the programmes would start immediately and continue for the next two years.

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