Jumia Travel on Wednesday said that it would be hosting its maiden World Tourism Day event to raise awareness on the importance of tourism in Nigeria.
Omolara Adagunodo, Managing Director of Jumia Travel, in a statement, said the September 27 event would address the growing relevance of tourism and its potential to create thousands of jobs.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that United Nations set aside September 27 each year as World Tourism Day to foster awareness among the international community on the importance of tourism.
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“This year’s theme: “Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future for All”, highlights the relevance the tourism sector plays in creating more and better jobs for millions of people everywhere.
“The Nigeria Hospitality Report, published by Jumia Travel Report, said that the number of direct jobs created by the sector peaked at 1.2 million, compared to 651,000 in 2016, of total employment in the country.
“The theme could not have come at a better time when one out of 20 jobs is from the travel and tourism sector, ” Adagunodo said.
According to her, the World Tourism Day event in Lagos is another forum for stakeholders to discuss issues affecting the hospitality sector, and proffer pragmatic solutions.
“The Nigeria hospitality sector has myriads of challenges, one of which is reflected in this year’s theme.
“For Jumia, World Tourism Day is not just a day to celebrate, but also a day to discuss some of the shortcomings of the sector, while making valid recommendations on how to tackle or resolve them,” she said. (NAN)