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Nigeria Seeks Tourism ‘Marshall Plan’ To Aid Post-COVID-19 Recovery In Africa

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Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has called for a ‘Marshall Plan’ to aid the recovery of the Travel and Tourism Sector in Africa, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic that has hit the sector very hard.

 ”It is imperative for the United Nations World Tourism Organization(UNWTO) to support Africa with a ‘Marshall Plan’ of sorts, in terms of technical assistance, capacity building and grants,” the Minister said in his intervention during the 63rd Meeting of the UNWTO
Regional Commission for Africa (CAF), hosted virtually by Seychelles on Monday.

He said the fastest way for the Travel and Tourism Sector in Africa to recover from the effects of the pandemic is to focus on domestic and intra-Africa tourism.

Alhaji Mohammed said following the outbreak of the pandemic, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture had to act quickly, because the impact of the pandemic has been particularly devastating, due to its importance and relevance to the national
economy.

”The Travel and Tourism sector and indeed the entire Nigeria Creative Industry is large, diverse, dynamic and critical for economic growth, development and diversification. It is the biggest creator of jobs after agriculture. Also, the Industry contributes between 2.5 and 3%to the nation’s GDP,” he said.

The Minister told the meeting that a 22-member stakeholders committee has been established and tasked with working out the immediate, short and long term economic stimulus and initiatives for  the industry, in order to mitigate the effect of the pandemic.

”The committee, with membership drawn from the Tourism, Hospitality, Music, Film, Fashion, Photography and Broadcasting media,  among others, is tasked with assessing the expected impact of the pandemic on the industry in general; advising the Government on how to mitigate job and revenue losses in the industry as well as to create succor for the industry small businesses; suggesting the type of taxation and financing that are best for the industry at this time to encourage growth, and advising the Government on any other measure or measures that can be undertaken to support the industry.

 ”We are rejigging the National Endowment for the Arts to align it with the current realities. We are also studying the new set of guidelines/recommendations by the UNWTO as well as the ‘Safe Travel Protocols ‘ designed by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC)for the purpose of domesticating them. I have no doubt that
the measures we are putting in place will yield positive results in sustaining the Creative Industry in Nigeria,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also established a 50 billion Naira stimulus package to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on households, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the Creative Industry.

He said as Nigeria gradually opens up, just like the rest of the world, new protocols are being put in place for the safety and security of all, listing such measures as training of personnel on security and safety measures, infection control, adherence to government protocols, enhanced hygiene measures, use of personal protective equipment and
facility sanitation.

The Minister commended the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), which has pledged US$500 million for the Creative Industry in Africa, saying the support will come in handy ”as our sector seeks to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic”.

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Creative Industry

NTDA, NIHOTOUR Strengthen Partnership at Joint Management Retreat

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The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) and the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) recently held a joint management retreat at Ibeto Hotel, Abuja. The retreat brought together key management officials from both agencies to foster collaboration, address industry challenges, and develop strategies for advancing Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality sector.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of NIHOTOUR, Aare Dr. Abisoye Fagade, expressed excitement about the retreat and urged management staff of both agencies to engage in meaningful discussions to find lasting solutions to shared challenges. “We need to focus on strengthening inter-agency synergy between NTDA and NIHOTOUR”, he said. He also emphasized on the importance of teamwork in achieving sustainable growth for the sector.

The Director-General of NTDA, Chief Folorunsho Coker, called for stronger collaboration between the two agencies, stating, “It is time for collaboration, not competition.” He also highlighted the critical role of technology in transforming Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry, urging stakeholders to embrace digital innovations to enhance service delivery and global competitiveness.

The joint management retreat served as a platform for knowledge sharing, strategy alignment, and renewed commitment to the growth of Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality landscape. It reinforced the shared vision of both agencies to position Nigeria as a top destination for local and international tourists.

The retreat yielded actionable strategies that will drive growth and innovation in the tourism and hospitality industry.

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