Nigeria to host African tourism ministers 2018

Nigeria has won the rights to host in 2018 the 61st meeting of African ministers in charge of tourism, tagged the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Commission for Africa in Abuja. Nigeria won the hosting rights by acclamation following the presentation of a five-minute video titled ‘’Simply Nigeria’’ to delegates at the just concluded 59th edition of the UNWTO CAF meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
The video, which highlighted Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and tourism destinations, was greeted with prolonged applause.
Chairman of the UNWTO Commission for Africa and Zimbabwean Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Dr. Walter Nzembi, said: “Procedurally, when a member state offers its destination for the host of the next CAF, we all put that request to a test, do I take the applause of the Minister’s presentation to mean your approval of Nigeria as next destination call?’’
The question was greeted by more resounding applause, confirming Nigeria as the host of the 2018 meeting.
Making a case for Nigeria’s bid, which was launched at the 58th edition of the UNWTO CAF meeting in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, in 2015, Mohammed said was an opportunity for the country of almost 200 million people “to showcase our rich cultural heritage and to promote Nigeria as a leisure and business destination.”
He described Nigeria as a “fascinating country,” which previously hosted the UNWTO CAF Meeting in 2003, 2008 and 2012, in addition to hosting the World Festival of Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture in 1977.
Mohammed stressed that Nigeria was a country of peaceful and hospitable people.