In September 2021, during the 64th meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Commission for Africa held in Cape Verde, Nigeria was awarded the hosting rights for the 1st UNWTO Global Conference on the theme ‘Linking Tourism, Culture and the Creative Industries- Pathways to Recovery and Inclusive Development.
The Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Secretary General of the UNWTO, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili signed the hosting Agreement on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the UNWTO respectively on Tuesday 19th April 2022. The signing took place at the Headquarters of the UNWTO in Madrid, Spain and the conference is scheduled to hold at the National Theatre Complex, Iganum, Lagos, from 14th-16th November 2022.
The objective of the conference is to identify, develop and promote stronger partnership between tourism, culture and the creative industries for inclusive economic growth and social development. Delegates to the conference will be drawn from the 166 member States of the Organization, executives of the UNWTO, international experts, public and private sector Stakeholders and the media.