As Kano get set for carnival of diversity

The day was set aside by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for tourism friendly countries all over the world to commemorate the event. The purpose of the celebration is to encourage awareness among the international community about the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide. Each year, the […]

The day was set aside by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for tourism friendly countries all over the world to commemorate the event.

The purpose of the celebration is to encourage awareness among the international community about the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.

Each year, the day focuses on a particular theme and this year’s theme is ‘Tourism – Celebrating Diversity,’ and it is meant to focus on the significance of tourism as a productive activity and its capacity to build understanding, foster social inclusion and promote higher standards of living cross cultures.

The event was initiated in 1970 by the UNWTO on September 27. The date was chosen to coincide with the adoption of the Statutes of the UNWTO in 1970.

At its Twelfth Session in Istanbul, Turkey, in October of 1997, the UNWTO General Assembly decided to designate a host country each year to act as the Organization’s partner in the celebration of WTD and this year’s event would be commemorated in Ghana while Kano State is hosting the national event.

Speaking with Travel and Leisure on the theme, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Senator Jibirn Bello Gada, said the theme was carefully selected to reflect on the innumerable roles of tourism in fostering global harmony and fortification of the environment.

“The aim of the theme is to highlight the most human side of the industry and its capacity to build understanding among the people.”

The Kano State government on its part has scheduled a series of cultural events that will stretch through the whole day.

And inline with that, officials of the state government met with officials of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to fine-tune arrangements for the event.

During the visit to the Tourism Village located at the head office of the NTDC on Tuesday, the Kano State government solicited the support of the apex tourism regulatory body for a successful hosting of the event.

The Executive Director, Kano State Tourism Board, Rabiu Ado Yusuf and the Director of Tourism, Kano State Ministry of Commerce and Tourism, Tijjani Aliyu Abdu spoke on the need for NTDC to support the state in hosting the event.

Ado also said that Kano State government would do everything possible to make the hosting of event the best of its kind. He also disclosed variety of programmes to reflect on the theme.

Ado, who described Kano as a ‘mega city’ stated that the state was the first to host the event in Nigeria in 1997 and would ensure that this year’s event is a huge success.

In his words: “we are prepared, we want to make it a full proof arrangement.”

On his part, Abdu said the team was in NTDC to “synergies with the Corporation and adopt an approach that would be broader for a successful and glamorous WTD”.

He added that they wanted the touch of dynamism and practicality the leadership of the NTDC has brought to bear in the tourism industry to reflect in this year’s event.

In his own remarks, the Director of Tourism at the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mr. J. O. Odekina stated that the Ministry is already working with the Kano State government towards a successful hosting of the fiesta.  

He added that “NTDC is the engine room of the Ministry as far as tourism is concerned”, hence the need to strategies with the Corporation for a successful outing in Kano.

Responding, the Director General of the NTDC, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe commended the state government for assenting to host the event.

He added that the state won the hosting right because of their interest in tourism.  “We are going to encourage states that are passionate for Tourism,” he said.

The DG later unfolded some of the activities that would be featured by the Corporation during the event which include:  Launching of the National Youth Tourism Club, branding of stakeholders, meeting with hoteliers, guided city tour of Kano, building up a profile of investments , arts and crafts exhibition among other events.