Explore sports, tourism for development - Tourism Minister advises states

Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja - 28.04.2008

Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, has advised states to explore ways of cooperating and developing tourism ties with other countries and exchange of tourism and sports information.

Speaking at the recently-held first National Sports Tourism Conference in Abuja, the minister said the conference was aimed at focusing on fundamental issues pertaining to sports and tourism, including the role they can play in the economic development of the country; the influence of sports and tourism activities on human and cultural values, and the research, promotion and marketing of sports and tourism.

The minister said the objectives of the conference were to identify the key trends and opportunities in the synergetic relationship between sports and tourism; to review and investigate the economic and social impact of sports tourism, and how mega sports events such as the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, FIFA World Cup, All Africa Games could be well organised, managed and financed in order to maximise profits, provide a platform for exchange of information and sharing of experiences of best practices in planning and management.

He said that sports and tourism were two driving forces for the promotion and sustainable economic development of tourism destinations.

In his paper entitled “linkages between sports tourism and commerce: Growing importance of sports tourism in economic development”, Chief Executive Officer Brilla FM, Mr. Larry Izamoje, said tourism would boost the image of the country, while major sporting events would foster relationship between countries.

He stated that every sporting event should be well-managed to yield the needed dividends to the country.

Former Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) president, Mr. Dan Ngerem, said Nigeria should not be discouraged by the failure of winning the hosting right of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, adding that the country should instead bid again for that of 2018.

He said that this would boost the tourism sector in the nearest future. He frowned on the inability of the organising committees of past events from giving vivid account of the gains and loses of such competitions.