FG woos toursim investors with incentives

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on investors in the tourism sector to take advantage of various incentives initiated by his administration.

He made the call yesterday while declaring open the 61st Meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization Commission for Africa (UNWTO-CAF) in Abuja.

Buhari listed some of the incentives to include, pioneer status to all major tourism projects; minimum tariff on imported tourism equipment, work permit for foreign workers with specialized skills within the industry; and land at concessionary rate by state governments to tourism investors.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, the President also called on tourists and investors in the sector to consider Nigeria as their second home.

He noted that the importance of tourism and its potentials to national economy could not be overemphasized, saying tourism contributes to the wealth of nations and the well-being of citizens, through foreign exchange earnings, generation of revenue, creation of employment, knowledge and cultural integration as well as increase the GDP.

The President commended the leadership of the UNWTO, the Commission for Africa (CAF) and the Tourism Ministers from all over Africa, for considering Nigeria worthy of hosting the event. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said hosting the event in Nigeria was a testimony to the achievements of the Buhari administration, especially in the area of security.

The UNWTO Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili on his path applauded the President’s recognition of tourism as crucial to Nigeria’s economic future.