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…To leverage event for destination promotion
From June 11-13, 2025, Nigeria will be hosting African tourism stakeholders at the 68th Meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa (CAF).
The meeting, which is being held by the Nigerian government, in collaboration with UN Tourism, is followed by a thematic conference on boosting social impact and education in tourism via innovation, AI, and creative industries in Africa.
As expected, the landmark event will bring together key stakeholders from across Africa to discuss strategic policies, explore emerging trends, and foster collaboration to advance tourism’s role in sustainable development.
On its part, the Nigerian government has confirmed its readiness to host the meeting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, while the Federarion of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), the umbrlla body of tourism private sector in the country, is also ready to welcome African delegates to the meeting.
It would be recalled that earlier in the year, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, assured a two-man team from the United Nations Tourism Commission for Africa (CAF), who paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja, that the country is ready and would give necessary support to make the meeting a success.
The minister has recently reassured on the success of the meeting also, while applauding the meeting as a unique opportunity to strengthen collaboration and drive the shared vision of tourism for sustainable development across the African continent.
So, for the three days the meeting will hold, Musawa promised that Nigeria would showcase its rich cultural heritage and also highlight the resilience of the tourism sector.
“We are excited to host this important event and showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and tourism potential. We look forward to working closely with the UN Tourism and other stakeholders to make this event a resounding success,” she said.
According to the minister, the hosting is not to show off, as she highlighted some of the potential benefits of the meeting, particularly for Nigerian youth, who can leverage AI for empowerment opportunities. This event, she said, aims to boost social impact and education in tourism through innovation, AI, and creative industries.
“It is not just about the meeting but also what you, as a country will gain out of this meeting. We will be coming here in June with all the Tourism Ministers in the region. We have seen how the tourism sector in general has shifted on the continent, whereby countries who earlier depended on oil are now moving to the tourism sector because of the economic value, environmental and social impact.
“We will make this valuable, especially for local participants. We will run a technical workshop that focuses on innovation and artificial intelligence, so, we will be capacitating the local team on how they can maximize this sector through the use of the new technologies,” the minister said.
Also highlighting the benefits of tourism to the economy, she said, “The tourism sector creates both direct and indirect economic benefits by generating income from tourist activities, including accommodation, transportation, food services and entertainment. Beyond the immediate economic impact, tourism stimulates ancillary industries such as construction, retail and agriculture, leading to job creation and fostering a more diverse and resilient economy.
As more people travel to Nigeria for business, leisure, and cultural exploration, the sector’s contribution to national revenue continues to grow.
“I wish to reaffirm Nigeria’s strong partnership with the UN Tourism, recognizing the critical role collaboration plays in achieving sustainable growth for Africa’s tourism industry. Through its continued engagement with the UN Tourism, Nigeria actively contributes to shaping policies, promoting best practices, and supporting initiatives that foster responsible tourism development across the continent. This partnership is essential not only for strengthening Nigeria’s tourism sector but also for advancing Africa’s position as a leading global tourism destination, ensuring that the continent’s rich natural and cultural heritage is preserved for future generations”.
Meanwhile, the UN Tourism team and the continent-wide delegates are also confident in Nigeria’s ability to host a successful event, as the country has hosted previous UN Tourism meetings in the recent past.
The hospitality sector is ready too as hotels in Abuja are set for full occupancy, tour companies busy, artifact dealers, taxi and car hire services and others also set to smile to the bank during the meeting.
