Yemisi Izuora
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has
solicited the support of Nigeria’s tourism journalists and writers for
the country’s hosting of the 61st UNWTO/CAF Meeting in Abuja 4-6 June
2018.
”We are keenly aware that we cannot host a successful UNWTO/CAF
Meeting without you,” the Minister said during a meeting with members
of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism
(ANJET) in Lagos on Monday.
”I am therefore using this occasion to solicit your support for the
success of the 61st Meeting of the UNWTO/CAF,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed described the tourism writers as Nigeria’s foremost
brand ambassadors, whose writings go far beyond the shores of the
country and influence the opinions of foreign tourists, adding: ”With
that tag (of brand ambassadors), a lot of responsibility is placed on
you.”
He said the UNWTO/CAF Meeting is a great opportunity for Nigeria, ”in
that – apart from the socio-economic gains – the event will put
Nigeria, and the nation’s tourism industry in particular, on the world
map, attract foreign research experts and promote the necessary
network that will form the basis for future cooperation.
The Minister described as apt the theme of the Meeting, which is:
”Tourism Statistics: A Catalyst for Development,” because ”it will
give us the opportunity of strengthening our tourism data gathering
and analysis, which is an area in which we have been relatively
weak.”
He said with participants coming from the 51 African countries that
are members of the UNWTO as well as representatives of the UN agency,
other international organizations, local and international media as
well as experts and stakeholders from the public and private sector,
the meeting will provide a good opportunity for Nigeria to showcase
itself to the world, especially in the area of its culture and
tourism.
Alhaji Mohammed also said that Lagos State will host the Technical
Visit aspect of the meeting, which will be used to showcase Eko
Atlantic City which, on completion, will boast of the largest shopping
mall in sub-Saharan Africa, vast amenities for entertainment, such as
food courts, cinemas and playgrounds, and a canal that can be used for
water transportation and water sports, among others.