President Bola Tinubu has called on African countries to adopt policies that promote eco-friendly tourism and preserve cultural heritage across the continent.

Mr Tinubu, represented by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, made the call on Wednesday while declaring open the 68th meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa (CAF) in Abuja.

He sought practical solutions and alliances that would boost investment in tourism infrastructure, deepen the sector’s role in actualising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the African continent.

According to him, the target is to make sure Africa becomes the heart of global discourse on how to harness tourism’s full potential to boost the continent’s economy.

The president declared Nigeria’s support for sustainable tourism practices across Africa, which he said reflected the continent’s unique challenges.

“By collaborating with regional bodies, such as the African Union, ECOWAS and UN Tourism, Nigeria encourages other African nations to adopt policies promoting eco-friendly tourism and preserving cultural heritage.

“This collaboration includes sharing best practices, tourism training, developing joint marketing campaigns for sustainable tourism and improving infrastructure to support intra-African travel.

“Through these regional initiatives, Africa can foster a continent-wide movement toward tourism that benefits both the people and the environment, driving long-term prosperity for Africa,” he said. 

The president observed that tourism goes beyond travelling or visiting historic sites, waterfalls, mountains, and parks.

He maintained that the sector “is an engine of local economies, a catalyst for social understanding, and a bridge that unites cultures.

“The advent of technology and creativity has transformed tourism and its opportunities.

“Therefore, it is appropriate that this conference highlight the impact of AI, Innovation, and Creative Industries on the tourism sector,” he added.

Mr Tinubu highlighted the role of Nigeria’s creative industries in global tourism, which encompassed music, film, fashion, literature and digital arts.

The president  said the sector has “emerged as a powerful driver of economic growth, making significant contributions to the country’s GDP, job creation and economic diversification.”

”Nigeria’s Nollywood is one of the largest film industries in the world, generating substantial revenue from domestic and international markets.

”Similarly, the music and fashion industries have propelled Nigeria’s global cultural influence and generated income and employment opportunities.

“As we chart a new course for tourism in Africa, one thing is clear: the government cannot build the sector alone.

”It needs a partnership with the private sector. The sector’s growing complexity and opportunities demand this strategic partnership,” he said.

He implored participants “to focus on practical solutions and collaborative strategies that will strengthen intra-African travel, boost investment in tourism infrastructure and empower local communities.

Mr Tinubu also enjoined participants to deepen tourism’s role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and making African tourism the heart of the global conversation.

The minister of art, culture, tourism, and creative economy, Hannatu Musawa, urged African nations to leverage innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), and creative industries to unlock the continent’s vast potential in global tourism.

“I am passionate about Nigeria and the mission and commitment of President Tinubu. I believe in it because of his vision for Nigeria, which I believe will enable the country to take a seat in the comity of global nations as a developed nation.

”I pray the same for every African nation, and urge us all to rise together,” she said.

The minister noted that Mr Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” is the guiding principle for Nigeria’s sectoral transformation, emphasising that “Africa stands at the forefront of change.

”The 21st century demands that we build economies not just from the ground but on people-powered prosperity, through tourism, culture, the creative economy and the arts,” she said

The secretary-general of UN tourism, Amb. Zurab Pololikashvi, commended the Tinubu administration for supporting the transformation of the tourism industry in Nigeria.

Underscoring tourism as the future of Africa, he said the continent is indeed the new frontier in world tourism, given its huge potential and limitless opportunities for innovation and creativity.

Mr Pololikashvi urged leaders on the continent to address issues related to connectivity across the region by reviewing existing visa regimes in a bid to ease the movement of tourists across Africa and beyond.

Sen. Ireti Kingibe representing FCT, encouraged stakeholders across Africa to think boldly, as Africa is not just participating in the digital future of tourism.

“Today’s gathering is an opportunity to amplify the stories of home-grown innovations that attract tourists from the grassroots to the global stage.

” Let us use this space to exchange best practices, build cross-border collaborations and generate actionable strategies that place communities, especially women and youths, at the heart of our development agenda,” she said. 

  (NAN)