UN Lauds Effort To Improve Global Tourism

The secretary-general of the UN World Tourism Agency (UNWTO), Mr.  Taleb Rifai, has lauded the political will of the Nigerian government to develop tourism in the country.

“There is the existence of political will and we can feel it from outside this country,’’ Mr. Rifai said at a two-day meeting with the minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji  Lai Mohammed, in Madrid, Spain.

”Anyone who is interested in Nigeria will know the positive  development that has taken place in the country. Nigeria setting the pace in global tourism,’’ he said.

The UNWTO secretary-general, who noted that tourism contributes 10 per cent of  global GDP and creates one out of every 11 jobs, expressed delight at  the opportunity provided by the minister’s visit for robust collaboration between UNWTO and Nigeria).

‘’Nigeria is absolutely very important to us. The success of Nigeria  is positive for the African continent and the world,’’ he said.

The minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai  Mohammed, briefed the UNWTO secretary-general and his  delegation on the political, economic and security situation in  Nigeria. He said the government remain focused even in tough times.

Mohammed said since Culture and Tourism had been identified as one of the sectors that form the plank of the country’s diversification efforts, there had been a definite move to resuscitate the President Council on Tourism (PCT), the highest advisory body on tourism in the country.