Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says Nigeria will host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Regional Conference in 2022.
The UNWTO, founded on November 1, 1975, is the UN specialised agency entrusted with the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
The Minister, who announced the planned hosting in Sal Island, Cape Verde, after a meeting with UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, said the regional conference, to be hosted in Nigeria, would focus on tourism and creative industry.
Mohammed is in Sal Island with other African Culture and Tourism Ministers to attend the 64th Conference of UNWTO Commission for Africa and the second edition of the UNWTO Global Tourism Investment Forum.
He said the tourism and creative industry team was chosen because of the comparative advantage and strong points of Nigeria in films, music, fashion and the creative industry.
“Comparatively, Nigeria is not very strong in destination tourism though the country attracts many travellers who are more on businesses.
“Nigeria is better known for its music, films and for its culture and Nigeria music and films are exported for foreign exchange.”
“There are many Nigerian artistes that have gained global recognition, among who are Burna Boy and Whiz Kid, who won the latest Grammy Awards in different categories,” Mohammed said.
The minister recalled that Burna Boy, a Nigerian music superstar, recently sold out at the 02 Arena in London, England.