Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade-John, has emphasized preserving Nigeria’s historical and cultural heritage for future generations.
Speaking at the 10th edition of the Wonders of Nigeria Expo, organized by tourism promoter Ikechi Uko, which showcased over 1,000 tourist sites from across the nation, Ade-John urged Nigerians to develop a sense of pride in the nation’s tourism assets and actively engage in their preservation.
She highlighted the significance of community engagement, emphasizing the need to train local communities in tourism skills, entrepreneurship, and hospitality and fostering respect for cultural differences.
This, she stated, is essential for preserving these treasures for future generations and contributing to the country’s revenue diversity plan.
The minister also stressed the importance of promoting responsible tourism by focusing on positive stories about Nigeria to attract tourists.
She pledged government support for setting standards, revitalizing the presidential tourism council, and fostering an environment conducive to tourism growth.
Other speakers at the event echoed the call for government investment in training and capacity building for tourism practitioners and the provision of accommodation facilities and infrastructure at tourism sites.
They emphasized the role of tour operators in uncovering new tourism sites and driving traffic to them, calling for direct government support and grants to enable them to do more.
Issues such as poor road networks and harassment of tourists by security personnel were also raised, with calls for government intervention to address these challenges.
The event concluded with the presentation of awards to individuals and states for their contributions to promoting tourism in Nigeria and the induction of 100 practitioners into the “Tourism 100 Club.”
