August 25, (THEWILL) – Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, has formally received the Draft National Tourism Policy, a collaborative effort between her ministry and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
The document was presented on Thursday, during a virtual meeting between the Ministry of Tourism and NESG officials.
The presentation comes barely three weeks ahead of a stakeholders’ validation meeting of various committee and sub-committee members involved in the review exercise.
The review of the National Tourism Policy project, which commenced in April, is expected to conclude by October 2024, with a presentation of the final document to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), scheduled for November, this year.
According to the tourism ministry, the presentation ‘marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s journey to harness the vast potential of its tourism industry, aligning it with global standards and sustainable practices.’
In her keynote address at the presentation ceremony, the minister emphasised the ‘transformative potential’ of the tourism policy, just as she further highlighted the strategic focus on sustainable tourism, community engagement and diversification of tourism products as essential pillars that will drive economic growth, job creation and cultural preservation in Nigeria.
“This draft policy is a testament to our collective dedication to repositioning Nigeria’s tourism sector as a key driver of economic diversification.
“We are committed to implementing frameworks that ensure accountability, foster green initiatives and empower women and youth, thereby laying a strong foundation for the future of Nigerian tourism.
“The draft policy reflects a comprehensive approach, addressing critical areas such as digital transformation, sectoral synergies with aviation, immigration and education and resilience-building against global challenges.
“Stakeholder inclusivity has been prioritised throughout the policy development process, ensuring that the voices of all relevant sectors are considered”, the minister stated.
According to ministry sources, the next steps involve further consultations and validations to refine the document before its implementation.
Already, a meeting of the stakeholders has been scheduled for September 17, in Lagos, for the validation of the document.
A letter to that effect signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Mrs Ibiene Roberts, dated August 19, and sent to committee members, informed that the scheduled meeting aims ‘to ensure that the policy is comprehensive, practical and aligns with the needs and perspectives of all relevant stakeholders in the tourism industry value chain.’
“The meeting also seeks to gather diverse input from both public and private sectors, identify any gaps and challenges, enhance the policy’s relevance to current and future needs, build consensus among stakeholders and ultimately improve the quality of the policy document based on constructive feedback”, said Mrs Ibiene.
The presentation ceremony concluded with a commitment to continuous collaboration and dialogue among stakeholders to ensure the successful realisation of the policy’s objectives.
The event also witnessed participation from top government officials, private sector representatives and key industry stakeholders, all united in their vision for a thriving Nigerian tourism sector.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
