Nigerian Government Signs Agreement to Host 2022 Global Tourism Conference

The Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Folorunsho Coker, expressed readiney of Nigeria to host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference on culture and sustainable development through tourism in November 2022.

He disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday.

Coker said that the hosting followed the discussions with UNWTO Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili, at United Nations General Assembly in December, 2021.

Coker said that, “the UNWTO platform is coming to Lagos in November 2022. It will be the opportunity for Nigeria to show the world its diversity in mediums of cultural expression.’’

In December, 2021, Coker had participated at the General Assembly of the UNWTO where the NTDC was readmitted as an affiliate member of the organization.

The UNWTO General Assembly took place in Madrid, Spain, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, 2021.

It would be recalled that NTDC was removed from affiliate membership of the organization over non-payment of membership dues by previous Directors-General of the Corporation.

It was, however, gathered that NTDC, under the leadership of Coker, has since paid up seven years arrears of its membership dues and was invited to observe the last General Assembly, where they were accepted back into the fold.

NTDC participated in all the activities of the 24th General Assembly of UNWTO, especially in the 43rd Affiliate Members Plenary Session, which took place at the Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel and Convention Center in Spain.

The candidature of NTDC to become an affiliate member of the UNWTO was submitted for the consideration of the General Assembly and was officially approved during the General Assembly session on Dec. 1, 2021.

It was reliably gathered that the re-admittance of Nigerian into the UNWTO would further boost the development of the tourism potentials of the country and pave the way for more foreign investments in the country.

NAN/Oluchi.O