Africa’s tourism story, still untold – Ambode
Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has said the huge tourism potentials inherent in Africa are not only grossly underutilised, but also were yet to be fully harnessed.
He made the assertion on Wednesday at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, in an address when he hosted 101 delegates from 34 countries of United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO), and eight African Tourism Ministers.
According to Ambode, the least travelled tourism continent is Africa and there were, in fact, destinations yet to be tapped.
“The least travelled tourism continent is Africa and unfortunately, the next places and destinations are actually in Africa are yet to be tapped. As a result of this, anything that has to integrate and bind the continent together that is where we should go because we are the next story,” he said.
Speaking on the potential of Lagos as a tourism hub, he said: “We believe strongly that with the kind of population and market that Lagos has, you must start to create tourism infrastructure to grow the economy.
“That is why you will see Lagos is now a construction site. The ultimate goal is that those infrastructures will now drive people to come and spend their little weekend and give us some other form of revenue or taxes. There is a cycle of development that tourism thrives to drive and that is why we have continually supported anything that has to do with tourism.
“It is in our own best interest that we partner and collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture. In this whole tourism industry, we are just an integral part of the whole bonding story that we are trying to build across Africa.
“This is very significant for us because now that we are beginning to see that every destination is an important destination across the continent, it is important that we integrate ourselves and also share whatever possibilities and opportunities that we have together,” he said.
The governor added that there was need for some sense of synergy and collaboration and that he felt this was the highlight of the summit; the more reason Lagos was supporting the project.
“In Lagos, we are almost about 24 million people. According to the UN report as at 2016, 86 people enter into Lagos every hour and most likely not wanting to go back. The next place is Mumbai, 79, and New York, seven, London, nine. So, why are people coming to Lagos and not wanting to go back?
“So, obviously, it means that at the point where we are not able to provide jobs for them, I need to start looking at the areas of tourism to be able to create that next port of building the GDP; that is create more goods, services and actually tap into the creative knowledge of our people, which is something we have not really been doing in Africa,” Ambode said.
“That is why you will see Lagos is now a construction site. The ultimate goal is that those infrastructures will now drive people to come and spend their little weekend and give us some other form of revenue or taxes. There is a cycle of development that tourism thrives to drive and that is why we have continually supported anything that has to do with tourism.”
Earlier, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the delegates of the ongoing UNTWO meeting were in Lagos on a technical visit.
According to Mohammed, a technical visit was a major part of the meeting and Lagos was chosen because of its foremost role in tourism in Nigeria.
He applauded Ambode for his support toward the successful hosting of the meeting in Nigeria and also commended him for positioning the state as the top tourism hub in Nigeria and in Sub Sahara Africa.
Also, Mr. Zurab Pololikjashvili, the Secretary General, UNTWO, said they were in Lagos to promote its tourism potentials and also to promote it as a new tourism destination.
“We will ensure that Lagos will be one of the most important of our strategic branding,” he said.
The delegates proceeded on a technical visit to Eko Atlantic City on Victoria Island, after the meeting.
