Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said his ministry is partnering with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in the implementation of the National Tourism
Development Masterplan to optimally harness the country’s tourism potential.
The minister disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday when he declared open the Fourth Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition, organised by
the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN).
“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 potential 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.
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.
The Minister said the government has fashioned out tourism investment
incentives such as tax exemption for up to three years, export/Import
Incentives, land at concessionary rate and work permit to foreigners
with specialized skills in order to attract private sector investment.
In his remarks, the President of FTAN, Mr. Rabo Saleh, commended the
Federal Government for the construction of the Abuja-Kaduna Standard
Gauge Railway and the Abuja Light Rail, saying the provision of
infrastructure and security is critical to the development of tourism
in the country.
He appealed to the media to always avoid portraying the country in the
negative light in order not to de-market the country and scare away
potential investors and tourists.
