Economy and tourism in Nigeria and the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire are poised to experience a rapid development as the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and the Cote d’Ivoire Embassy in Nigeria are set to partner to ensure this.
The Cote d’Ivoire Ambassador to Nigeria, Madam Toure Nee Kone Maman, who paid a courtesy call on the Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo, recently, said Nigeria is blessed in tourism and its economy is fast improving, while Cote d’Ivoire as well is fast developing economically and tourism wise, “hence, it is expedient for the two countries to synergize to propel the development of the duo.”
Ambassador Maman, who commended the strides of the NTDC boss at developing and promoting Nigeria’s tourism industry, disclosed that the partnership between the corporation and the Embassy would ensure increase in the tourism traffic in the two countries.
The synergy, according to the Cote d’Ivoire Ambassador, will also encourage investment between the two nations, “and we shall ensure timely implementation of the MoU we would sign with the NTDC.”
Mbanefo, reacting to the Cote d’Ivoirien’s speech, assured that Nigeria’s achievement in tourism will double in 2017, explaining that “the fall in the price of oil in the global market has propelled an encouraging shift of focus from oil to tourism.
“Presently, tourism contributes about four per cent to our GDP, but it would have increased to about eight per cent in the next two years.”
The NTDC boss reiterated that the focus of her administration is on domestic tourism, whereby Nigerians are encouraged to travel within Nigeria and foreigners are encouraged to travel to Nigeria.
Ambassador Maman, who described Cote d’Ivoire as the first exporter of cashew nuts and largest producer of cocoa, said the synergy would explore every aspect of tourism that the two countries share, which, according to her include, religious, business, beach, eco and cultural tourism.
