Abuja: Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, has called for adequate investment in Africa’s rich tourism and creative sectors for a robust contribution to the global tourism revenue index. The minister made the call at the ongoing 68th Meeting of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event is being held from June 11 to 13, with the theme ‘Boosting Social Impact and Education on Tourism through AI, Innovation and Creative Industries in Africa.’ Musawa emphasized that the future of African prosperity hinges on leveraging its culture, creativity, and technology to empower people. She highlighted the continent’s current capture of less than five per cent of the global tourism market, worth $11 trillion.
Musawa also pointed out that despite Africa’s rich tourism potential, its monetary contribution to global tourism remains minimal. She noted, “The global tourism industry is worth $11 trillion, and the creative economy adds more than $2 trillion to global GDP. Yet Africa captures less than five per cent of global tourism and less than one per cent of global creative exports.” She attributed this gap to a lack of investment, visibility, and systems and extended an invitation for collaborative efforts to close these gaps.
Nigeria has initiated several flagship programs as part of a broader strategy for its culture, tourism, and creative sectors. These include the Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF) and the Creative Leap Acceleration Programme, which supports the next generation of filmmakers, fashion designers, and digital innovators. Additionally, the Nigeria Everywhere brand aims to enhance Nigeria’s presence on the global cultural index through a soft power platform.
To support infrastructure development, the Federal Government has established the Creative and Tourism Infrastructure Corporation (CTIco), which aims to transform public heritage assets into commercial tourism destinations through innovative PPP models. Musawa called for a concerted effort among African stakeholders to reposition the continent’s tourism as a viable alternative for wealth creation.
She stressed the need for integrated visa regimes, cross-border tourism corridors, and shared storytelling platforms to boost tourism across Africa. “The 21st century will be powered by human imagination, and this gathering is our opportunity to build that future together,” Musawa said, urging investment in African talent.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, also advocated for eco-friendly tourism and cultural heritage preservation. He emphasized the importance of collaborating with regional bodies like the African Union, ECOWAS, and UN Tourism to promote sustainable tourism and improve infrastructure for intra-African travel.
Amb. Zurab Pololikashvi, Secretary-General of UN Tourism, praised Nigeria’s efforts to transform its tourism industry, recognizing Africa as the new frontier in global tourism. He encouraged leaders to address connectivity issues by revising visa regimes to facilitate tourist movement across Africa and underscored the need for increased budgetary provisions to boost the sector’s economic contribution.