Nigeria calls for collaboration of ECOWAS states to develop West Africa's tourism
Nigeria's government has urged greater cooperation among the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to unlock the tourism potential of the region and allow West Africa to compete globally.
Speaking at a meeting on the ECOTOUR 19-29 tourism action plan in Abuja, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Director General Folorunsho Coker called for streamlining tourism policies across ECOWAS nations.
"It's the season to collaborate not to compete," Coker stated. "It's in the spirit of collaboration that we will grow pan-African tourism." He advocated for localising policies tailored to each country for success.
Coker proposed harmonising regulations guiding the tourism sector across the 15 ECOWAS states, as well as training operators and embracing technology. "We must embrace technology, or it will leave us behind," he urged.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs Massandjé Toure-Liste said the meeting drew from the ECOTOUR 19-29 plan adopted to promote responsible tourism. Discussions centred on an ECOTOUR monitoring mechanism and the ECOWAS Tourism Accommodation Regulator (ETAR) operational guidelines.
"Our focus includes facilitating private sector dialogue and encouraging strategic regional alignment and collaboration," Toure-Liste stated, adding they aim to support creating a regional private sector confederation.
The four-day meeting aims to boost intra-regional cooperation to develop West Africa's tourism industry through streamlined policies and engagement with the private sector.
Source: Arise News