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World Tourism Day: curator advocates promotion of cultural heritage tourism
NAN-ELS-2
Heritage
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, Sept. 27, 2017 (NAN) Dr Amos Olorunnipa, Curator, National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, has advocated promotion of cultural heritage tourism as against mass tourism in Nigeria, as the world marks 2017 World Tourism Day.
Olorunnipa made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Wednesday.
He noted that cultural tourism entailed travelling to experience places, artifacts, monuments, cultural sites and activities of people’s lifestyle that represent the stories and people of the past which can be transmitted to future generation.
Olorunnipa, described tourism as a driver of an economic growth as well as a greener future for the development of communities, travelers, public, private sectors and decision makers.
The curator said the challenge of insecurity in the nation must be addressed for effective and sustainable tourism in Nigeria to thrive.
He stressed the need for more tourist sites to be identified in the country as well as development of existing cultural heritage sites.
“The involvement of the local communities in the development of tourism sector should be considered by all the government sectors.
“Our values, norms, traditions, festivals, should be the major agenda of both state and Federal Governments.
“There should be political will regarding to financing the tourism sector in Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, World Tourism Day is a day to raise awareness about the role of tourism in the development of a nation.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer, Dvine Travels and Tours Bureau ltd., Ibadan, Dr Olumuyiwa Salami, urged the Federal Government to always organise international cultural exhibitions.
This, he said, would improve the country’s tourism industry and sector.
Salami said that government should develop the tourist sites in the country to attract foreigners and improve Nigeria’s tourism industry, thereby boosting the economy.
“The Federal and state governments should reconstruct the settings of our airports, especially the local ones.
“The Federal Government and well meaning Nigerians should also sponsor the less privilege ones on tourism IT trainings to create jobs and make them self-employed,” he said.
He advised youths to engage in tourism to harness the potential rather than waiting and depending on white-collar jobs.
“It’s easy to make it as far as the person is eager to work, our youths should know that one must be hardworking for one to make it, no shortcut to lasting success,” Salami said.
NAN reports that the World Tourism Day is marked every Sept. 27.
This year is the 38th edition of the celebration and it has the theme ‘sustainable tourism: a tool for development’. (NAN)
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Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Ekemini Ladejobi