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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Lagos urges tourism stakeholders to safeguard environment, culture, arts

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Lagos State urges tourism stakeholders to protect the environment, culture, arts, and tourism assets to attract visitors and boost the economy.
  • The call emphasizes collective action from practitioners, promoters, and residents to preserve the state's unique attractions.
  • Lagos is positioned as Nigeria's tourism capital, with the government prioritizing the sector under the current administration.

Lagos State is calling on tourism stakeholders to ramp up efforts in safeguarding the environment, cultural heritage, arts, and tourism assets, aiming to draw more visitors and stimulate economic growth. The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture stressed that collective action is essential for preserving the resources that make Lagos and Nigeria appealing destinations.

We are actually all tourists, and we must protect our environment, protect our culture, protect our heritage, what we hold dear.

— Bopo Oyekan-IsmailaPermanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, emphasizing collective responsibility.

"We are actually all tourists, and we must protect our environment, protect our culture, protect our heritage, what we hold dear," stated Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. She highlighted that tourism flourishes when communities actively value and showcase their distinct cultural assets, traditions, cuisine, arts, and natural attractions. "If we do not pay attention to them and promote them and let people know that we appreciate what we have, that is when people will also take us seriously," she added.

Oyekan-Ismaila described Lagos as Nigeria's tourism capital, noting the current administration's focus on the sector within its development agenda. The state remains a significant hub for culture, entertainment, meetings, conferences, exhibitions, beach tourism, leisure, wellness, and adventure. The Permanent Secretary commended the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) for its role in promoting destinations across Nigeria.

If we do not pay attention to them and promote them and let people know that we appreciate what we have, that is when people will also take us seriously.

— Bopo Oyekan-IsmailaPermanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, on the importance of showcasing local assets.

NATOP President Bolaji Mustapha explained that the association chose Lagos for its 10th Annual General Meeting due to the state government's strong support for tourism development. "They have supported us enough. Let us come back to Lagos, at least before this term ends. Let us promote Nigeria again, at least through Lagos State," Mustapha urged. The AGM, themed 'Unlocking Nigeria’s Tourism Potential: Strengthening Tour Operators for Sustainable Destination Development,' is scheduled for July 8 to July 12 and will serve as a platform to promote domestic tourism.

They have supported us enough. Let us come back to Lagos, at least before this term ends. Let us promote Nigeria again, at least through Lagos State.

— Bolaji MustaphaNATOP President on the decision to host the AGM in Lagos.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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