Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed
FG grants Kebbi hosting rights for World Tourism Day 2021 in Nigeria
[By VICTOR NZE]
Federal Government, through the Office of the Minister of Information and Culture, in Abuja has granted the hosting rights for the 2021 World Tourism Day (WTD) commemoration and celebration in Nigeria to Kebbi State.
Similarly, Kebbi Government officials, in Birnin Kebbi, weekend, confirmed readiness of the state to host the retinue of activities lined-up by the Ministry of Information and Culture for the 2021 WTD activities in Nigeria.
United Nations (UN) has designated September 27 every year as a global observance day for creating awareness of tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic contributions to tourist destinations and host communities.
World Tourism Days have, in recent history, become occasions to equally x-ray the contributions that the sector makes in attaining the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
To this end, Nigeria’s commemoration of the 2021 World Tourism Day, in Kebbi State, would highlight the country’s rich cultural tourism destinations and leading products.
This year, the programme of events in Nigeria would run for five days, culminating with a grand finale on September 27 in Argungu.
It is also noteworthy that the Argungu Emirate is the host community of the prestigious International Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival, Nigeria’s flagship cultural tourism fiesta.
Recently, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) announced the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day as; “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”.
A statement published on UNWTO’s website partly read, “…this is an opportunity to look beyond tourism statistics and acknowledge that, behind every number, there is a person. UNWTO invites its Member States, as well as non-members, sister UN agencies, businesses and individuals to celebrate tourism’s unique ability to ensure that nobody is left behind as the world begins to open up again and look to the future.”
Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa, the Turakin Kebbi, who is a member of Nigeria’s 2021 World Tourism Day events Planning Committee listed activities scheduled for Nigeria’s Tourism Day celebration to include; international media briefings, mini-durbar by Argungu Emirate Council, scintillating cultural displays, charity polo matches, guided tour of prominent tourist sites and the turbanning of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, as the ‘Kaakakin’ Kebbi.
The Planning Committee for Nigeria’s World Tourism Day 2021 celebrations includes; the Ministry of Information and Culture, NIHOTOUR, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and the organized tourism private sector, among other stakeholders.
