The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, NTDA, has involved children across select nursery, primary and secondary schools in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, southern Nigeria.
This is in line with the determination to promote green investments in tourism practices from the cradle.
The celebration, which showcased a panel discussion on the 2023 theme: Tourism and Green Investment, featured poetry, renditions and a drama sketch by students of the Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar.
In their presentations, the children highlighted the benefits of tourism for the individual, state and nation to include “50 percent job creation and revenue generation as well as preserve nature.”
They urged stakeholders to engage media in promoting the various tourism sites in the state and Nigeria.
Sustainable planet
The Zonal Director of NTDA, Mrs. Ntiense Olaoye said that “this year’s theme was carefully chosen due to the significance role investment plays in tourism development around the world.”
Olaoye said, “we are not talking about any kind of investment rather that which is targeted at the people, for the planet and prosperity. The sector employs 10% of the world’s workforce, which contributes hugely to economic diversification and development.”
“Also, having a sustainable planet is beneficial to the human race and prosperity because the sector is known to provide pathways to empowerment by supporting the survival of micro, small and medium scale enterprises,” Olaoye stressed.
On the decision to celebrate the WTD with children, the Zonal Director stated, “we decided to collaborate with the children because of they are the future. They will lead us in the future and so, I am creating the awareness amongst the youths so that as they return to their schools, the message would be shared with the others.”
She explained that the idea was to ensure children understand tourism, its potentials and the benefits of protecting the environment while earning honest income.
Religious tourism
In separate goodwill messages to the children, the National Coordinator, Youth in Tourism Initiative of Nigeria, Mr. Step Stephen encouraged young people to consider taking advantage of tourism events in the state and engaged in environment friendly businesses at their levels.
He noted that religious tourism which was one of the largest revenue earner for countries like Israel and Saudi Arabia could also flourish in Nigeria.
He said; “every year thousands of people all over the whole converge on Calabar to attend Brotherhood of the Cross and Star religious programme and in Ogun State, western Nigeria there is Shiloh.
“It is for our best interest as individuals, state and country to tap into this religious tourism and benefit from the annual conventions like Israel and Saudi Arabia have. We spend billions every year to visit these two countries for what is called Pilgrimage, but Siloh and the BCS also present such opportunities.”
Also speaking, the Project Director, Southern Fest, Mr. Ekeng Ewa and the Cross River State Coordinator of Youths in Tourism Initiative of Nigeria, Mr. Etta Edim commended the inclusion of young people in tourism development, noting that involving school children in tourism was vital to the future.
Highlights was the presentation of gifts to the schools for their participation in this year’s World Tourism Day celebration.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
