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FG needs N25bn to develop Nigeria’s tourism master plan

By BusinessNews Staff on March 5, 2014

Minister of Culture,Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, said on Tuesday that his ministry required N25bn to effectively develop a befitting tourism master plan for the country.

Duke stated this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Culture, Tourism and National Development, at the National Assembly, to defend his ministry’s 2014 budget.

He noted that the implementation of the country’s tourism master plan was key to the effective development of the nation’s tourism potential.

Duke said, “For the Federal Government to achieve its dream of not only creating jobs for the people but also revenue for the country, there is the need for the full development of the master plan.

“We need about N25bn to effectively implement theTourism Master Plan. But the non allocation of funds has stalled this crucial project.

“By the budget being virtually doubled, this year we are looking at a budget of N331m for 2014 for the implementation of the Tourism Master Plan.

“If this amount (331m ) is made available annually we would be ableto commence the effective implementation of the Tourism Master Plan.”

Duke added that his ministry was working towards giving attention to promotion of heritage festivals being held across the country.

He explained that the festivals deserved to be given all necessary assistance by government to boost the tourism sector given its role in national integration.

He said, “We have to support these cultural festivals so that cultural custodians will see the support as encouragement to the deployment of culture as a tool for national integration.”

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