Stakeholders have described the merger of the Federal Ministries of Tourism and that of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy by the federal government as a step in the right direction.

On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu announced the merger of the two ministries into the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy as part of his much-anticipated cabinet reshuffle.

The cabinet shakeup had the minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, disengaged alongside four other ministers.

According to the presidency, the move is part of eight far-reaching actions to reinvigorate the government’s capacity for optimal efficiency pursuant to his commitment to deliver on his promises to Nigerians.

The stakeholders who spoke on Thursday said that having culture and tourism in one ministry is the popular tide in many developed climes where arts, culture and tourism are the main drivers of economies.

They said further that the merger would reduce the cost of governance, especially as the federal government was struggling with a paucity of funds, and it would bring synergy of policies and programmes.

Phil Roberts, executive director of the Tourism Volunteers Network, said the fusion of tourism and culture would provide an opportunity for concentrated leadership.

“For us at tourism volunteers, the merger of the ministries of tourism and culture is a good move because even that woman in tourism was not doing anything to carry stakeholders in the sector along,” stated Mr Roberts.

Sophia Khan, the national president of the Women in Business and Tourism (WIBAT) in Nigeria, said culture provides attractions for tourism, and there was no need to separate them in the first place.

Agility Onwurah, president of Nollywood New Yam Festival and Awards, said Nigeria’s tourism was largely centred on cultural activities, and there was a need to have culture and tourism under one ministry.

(NAN)