Triumph, Nigeria
By UMAR DANLADI ADO
KANO state government has celebrated this year’s World Tourism Day with the disbursement of N50,000 each to 22 traditional handicraft businesses as interest free loan to boost tourism potentials.
Disbursing the loan at the event held in Gwarzo town, Saturday, the state deputy governor, Engr. Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo, said tourism activities are in tandem with the state government’s policies in view of their multiplier effect in the economy.
He said the state government accords greater priority to exploring tourism potentials as the sector has gained global acceptability for the economic development of any nation in addition to generating employment opportunities for the populace.
Engr. Gwarzo expressed satisfaction with the good people of the state for making the atmosphere conducive for both visitors and tourists to visit the state from far and near.
Earlier, the state commissioner of commerce, industry, cooperatives and tourism, Alhaji Ahmad Ibrahim Yakasai had said the state had excelled in terms of other socio-cultural improvements where the state emerged first position among the 24 states that participated in the recently held cultural display in Abuja.
He reaffirmed that Sallah celebration in the state has also been a tourist attraction as such the state government plans to enhance this traditional festival.
Alhaji Yakasai advised all the 44 local government areas in the state to ensure that they explore the available tourism attractions in their respective areas inorder to generate revenue and provide employment opportunities.
Also speaking, the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) Secretary General, represented by an official of the zonal office of the Nigeria Tourism Development Commi-ssion (NTDC), Kano, Alhaji Nuhu M. Muhammad, stated that the state was considered as a world tourism friendly one in the world, adding that Kano is receiving visitors globally, as such it has every chance to improve its tourism potentialities.
He disclosed that such is necessary as in future, tourism sector would become the second largest revenue generating sector in the world.