The Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, has said the Federal Government is ready to create and promote Nigeria’s tourism products in the diaspora and at home.

She made this known today, 27th September, 2023 at the Abuja 2023 World Tourism Day with the theme; ‘Tourism and Green Investment, the Minister said the tourism “products are vast, plentiful and important to revenue generation for the country”.

The Minister stated that there is an opportunity to reflect on ways to enhance the contribution of tourism in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015.

According to the Minister, taking tourism to the community level and showcasing the hidden gems of the villages in all regions of our picturesque and diverse country, is the essence of creating sustainable tourism in Nigeria.

She identified the key points for the growth and development of tourism in Nigeria as; community empowerment, collaboration and partnerships, sustainable tourism development, investment in renewable energy, and digital transformation. According to her, all these have a transformative power and hold immense potential for our nation.

The Minister reiterated that tourism products require adequate awareness development, maintenance, and promotion.

She stated that there are numerous challenges that plague the industry but the government will gradually, speedily, and successfully overcome the challenges with guidance, support and collaboration of all stakeholders.

Speaking earlier at the event, the United Nations World Tourism Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, described tourism as a pillar of economies. It plays a central role in our societies and our individual lives. According to the UN Secretary, tourism proffers solutions to some of our biggest challenges including the climate emergency and the urgent need to shift to more sustainable economies.

Zurab further said the power of tourism is enormous. He remarked that tourism will be made easier for investors of all kinds to support tourism projects with the potential to make a difference.