The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Commission for Africa has declared Nigeria as the host of the 61st meeting of African tourism ministers.

In the bid-winning presentation, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, described Nigeria as a ”fascinating country”, adding that the country intended to use the meeting to showcase its rich cultural heritage ”promote Nigeria as a leisure and business destination”.

He reminded the gathering that the country has hosted the same meeting in 2003, 2008, and 2012, in addition to hosting the Second World Festival of Black and African Arts and Culture in 1977.

The minister’s presentation, which was accompanied by a five-minute video, was applauded by the gathering of ministers at the just-concluded 59th edition of the UNWTO meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Dr. Walter Nzembi, the chairman of the UNWTO Commission for Africa, Zimbabwean Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, thereafter announced Nigeria as the official host of the next edition of the meeting.