The Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, on Wednesday, hosted a fruitful courtesy visit from the Jamaican High Commissioner, Lincoln G. Downer, and Andre O. Hibbert, Head of Chancery/Counsellor, at her office in Abuja.
The meeting aimed to strengthen tourism and cultural ties between the two nations, focusing on collaborative opportunities.
Discussions between Ade-John and the Jamaican delegation centred on exploring avenues for cooperation in community tourism, wellness tourism, and leisure tourism.
Special emphasis was placed on leveraging Nigeria and Jamaica’s rich coastal resources for joint tourism initiatives.
Downer provided insights into Jamaica’s successful tourism sector recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting strategies that inspired Nigeria’s tourism planning.
Responding, Ade-John expressed keen interest in utilizing existing university partnerships to enhance Nigeria’s tourism offerings.
Both parties acknowledged the cultural similarities between Nigeria and Jamaica, particularly in gastronomy, music, fashion, and film.
Ade-John stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to strengthen the film industry and promote cultural exchanges between the two countries.
She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment, under President Bola Tinubu‘s vision, to involving youth and women in the creative sector.
Plans were also discussed to showcase Nigerian weddings and engage Jamaican cultural icons in reciprocal cultural exchange programs.
The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to establish a joint committee focusing on aviation and cultural exchanges.
”This committee aims to streamline visa processes and enhance bilateral relations between Nigeria and Jamaica,” a statement from the ministry affirmed.
In a related development, the Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the potential of the state’s waterways to boost water tourism.
This was announced by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, during the ‘Fuji Fusion Lori Omi’ event, held on the MV Adimu Orisha Barge and organized by the Lagos Ferry Services.
Benson-Awoyinka highlighted that the state government’s efforts are geared towards boosting the local economy, creating employment opportunities, and attracting both domestic and international tourists.