Delegates from 166 member countries of the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) will participate in its 2022 conference scheduled to hold in Lagos between November 14 and 16.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made this known on Saturday in Lagos.

National tourism and culture organisations, international organisations, destination management organisations and stakeholders from the public and private sectors are expected at the conference.

Also expected to participate are civil society organisations working on tourism, cultural and creative industries and the media.

Mr Mohammed told a news conference that delegates would include UNWTO top executives, officials and experts led by the secretary-general, ministers and officials of tourism, culture and arts ministries of member states.

There would be two parallel experts’ workshops, a seminar on tourism and the creative industry and a conference on linking tourism, culture and the creative industry.

The minister noted that there would also be exhibitions on gastronomy, fashion, movie, music, visual arts and more, as well as a special programme on the creative industry tagged “A Day with Nollywood”.

Mr Mohammed noted that the hosting right for the conference demonstrated the confidence the UNWTO and its member states had in Nigeria and its capacity to host such an important and huge conference.

“This will mark the fifth time that Nigeria will be hosting member states of the UNWTO,” he stressed.

The minister expressed appreciation to Cappa D’Alberto and SANEF, the contractor and consultant, respectively, handling renovation work at the National Arts Theatre, Lagos, one of the venues for the conference.

“With regards to other facilities and requirements, nine hotels, including Eko Hotels and Suites, the official hotel for the conference, have been designated to provide accommodation for delegates.

“Countries bid to host international conferences and events because they provide a credible opportunity and platform to market the various sectors of their national economies.

“Nigeria intends to leverage on this very important event to market and highlight its diverse and unique assets in the areas of tourism, culture and the creative industry,” the minister said.