President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on African countries to adopt policies that promote eco-friendly tourism and preserve cultural heritage across the continent.
The President stated this on Wednesday when he declared open the 68th meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa (CAF) in Abuja.
He said the target is to make sure Africa becomes the heart of global discourse in terms of how to harness tourism’s full potential to boost the continent’s economy.
Specifically, he sought practical solutions and alliances that would boost investment in tourism infrastructure, deepen the sector’s role in actualizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the African continent.
President Tinubu, who was represented at the event by Vice President
Kashim Shettima declared Nigeria’s support for adopting sustainable tourism practices across Africa, which he said reflect the continent’s unique challenges.
He said, “By collaborating with regional bodies, such as the African Union, ECOWAS and UN Tourism, Nigeria encourages other African nations to adopt policies promoting eco-friendly tourism and preserving cultural heritage.
“This collaboration includes sharing best practices, tourism training, developing joint marketing campaigns for sustainable tourism and improving infrastructure to support intra-African travel. Through these regional initiatives, Africa can foster a continent-wide movement toward tourism that benefits both the people and the environment, driving long-term prosperity for Africa.”
The Nigerian leader observed that tourism is a catalyst for social understanding, and a bridge that unites cultures.
“The advent of technology and creativity has transformed tourism and its opportunities. Therefore, it is appropriate that this conference highlight the impact of AI, Innovation, and Creative Industries on the tourism sector,” he added.
Creative Industries
Highlighting the role of Nigeria’s creative industries in global tourism, which encompasses music, film, fashion, literature and digital arts, President Tinubu said the sector has “emerged as a powerful driver of economic growth, making significant contributions to the country’s GDP, job creation and economic diversification.”
The Nigerian leader implored participants “to focus on practical solutions and collaborative strategies that will strengthen intra-African travel, boost investment in tourism infrastructure, empower local communities, and deepen tourism’s role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and making African tourism the heart of the global conversation.”
The Secretary-General of UN Tourism, Zurab Pololikashvi commended the
Tinubu administration for supporting the transformation of tourism industry in Nigeria, which, according to him, will impact the rest of Africa.
Underscoring tourism as the future of Africa, he said the continent is indeed the new frontier in world tourism, given its huge potential and limitless opportunities for innovation and creativity.
Pololikashvi urged leaders on the continent to address issues related to connectivity across the region by reviewing existing visa regimes
in a bid to ease the movement of tourists across Africa and beyond.