World Tourism Day: Edo to rally stakeholders on heritage promotion, protection policy to drive sector growth

Edo State Government, as part of activities to mark the 2023 World Tourism Day, will bring stakeholders in the State’s tourism sector together to seek their buy-in and input in the recently drafted Edo State Heritage Promotion and Protection Policy, a document aimed at setting guidelines and implementation strategies for the conservation and promotion of the State’s tangible and intangible heritage materials.

This was contained in a press statement by the State Commissioner for Arts, Culture, and Tourism, Dr. Uyi Oduwa Malaka, while disclosing plans by the State to join the world in the celebration of this year’s World Tourism Day (WTD), which is held annually on September 27.

According to her, “World Tourism Day is a day set aside by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to foster awareness of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, and economic values to mankind.

“The theme for this year’s celebration is “Tourism and Green Investment," which emphasises the vital need for investment in building a tourism sector that delivers for people and the planet.

“Tourism is a positive force of nature that helps to connect our heritage, historicity and our present. It connects culture civilizations and melts humanity into a common narrative of origins and experiences.’’

The Commissioner further stated that activities to mark the occasion would hold at the Ogba Zoological Garden on Wednesday September 27, with the major focus on unveiling that State’s Heritage Promotion and Protection Policy, noting that, ‘‘it will feature stakeholders input in the recently drafted Edo State Heritage Promotion and Protection Policy, guided tours, workshops and it will highlight some of the milestones recorded by the state government in the tourism space.

“This policy places robust emphasis on preservation, conservation and maintenance of our heritage sites and intangible heritage that is consistent with this year’s theme of green investment.”

The statement further encouraged participants and stakeholders in the sector to suggest ideas that will promote sustainable tourism practices through environmentally friendly initiatives.