The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, has said community-based tourism will provide employment for citizens and foster development across the state.
Akinbile-Yussuf stated this on Tuesday during an event organised by the ministry to commemorate the 2022 World Tourism Day in Alausa, Ikeja.
She said, “With the knowledge of what the international theme for this year’s WTD seeks to address, the sub-theme for this event is, ‘Rethinking tourism through host communities.’ This speaks to the community-based initiative already introduced by the ministry last year.
“The pilot scheme has commenced in six local governments across the state. For several other reasons, community-based tourism is intended to provide opportunities for employment, revenue generation and local earnings from goods and services to help tourism activities. This will bring a sense of ownership of community-based tourism businesses where community members develop local skills.”
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Olufemi Martins, called on stakeholders to rethink tourism and recognise it as a pillar of development.
A representative of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, Mr Rotimi Aiyetan, said, “We will continue to recognise and explore the opportunities that tourism brings as these form part of the 17 goals of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 agenda.”
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