The Office of the Federal Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism has confirmed that it has granted Kebbi State Government the right to host Nigeria’s observance and celebration of this year’s 2021 World Tourism Day.
More so, Kebbi State Government officials, in Birnin Kebbi, have equally confirmed their readiness to host the retinue of activities lined up by the Ministry of Information and Culture for this year’s World Tourism Day activities in Nigeria.
Since the 1970s, every September 27th is marked, by the United Nations, as a global observance day for creating awareness of tourism’s social, cultural, political, and economic contributions to tourist destinations and host communities. World Tourism Days have, in recent history, become occasions to equally x-ray the contributions that the sector makes in attaining the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
It is now confirmed that Nigeria’s observance of the 2021 World Tourism Day, in Kebbi State, would highlight the country’s rich cultural tourism destinations and leading products. This year, the program of events for Nigeria would run for five days, culminating with a grand finale on 27th September in Argungu.
It is noteworthy that, Argungu Emirate is the host community of the prestigious International Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival. Nigeria’s flagship cultural tourism jamboree.
Recently, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation announced the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day as “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”. A statement, published on UNWTO’s website partly read, “…this is an opportunity to look beyond tourism statistics and acknowledge that, behind every number, there is a person. UNWTO invites its Member States, as well as non-members, sister UN agencies, businesses, and individuals to celebrate tourism’s unique ability to ensure that nobody is left behind as the world begins to open up again and look to the future.”
The Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Alhaji. Nura Sani Kangiwa, the Turakin Kebbi, who is a member of Nigeria’s 2021 World Tourism Day events Planning Committee listed the activities scheduled for Nigeria’s Tourism Day observance to include international media briefings, mini-durbar by Argungu Emirate Council, scintillating cultural displays, charity polo matches, guided tour of prominent tourist sites and the turban of Alhaji. Lai Muhammed, the present Minister of Information and Culture, as ‘Kaakakin’ Kebbi.
The Planning Committee for Nigeria’s World Tourism Day 2021 observance includes the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, and the organized tourism private sector, among other stakeholders.