The Vice President of the China’s Central Academy of Cultural Administration (CACA), Beijing, Mr. Duan Zhouwu, has stated that Africa, with abundant tourist resources, is one of the cradles of civilization, and is very rich in both magnificent natural sceneries and cultural legacies.

Zhouwu made the statement while welcoming participants at the formal opening ceremony of the 2015 Seminar on Cultural Tourism Management and Development for African English speaking Countries in Beijing.  

According to him, the seminar was timely and will combine the Management of Cultural Tourism with the need for Economic Development and will explore Tourism Development in Africa, adding that the programme will also include visits to some tourist sites in China.

Responding on behalf of the participants, Mrs. Paty Kateketa from Zimbabwe said that, “Cultural tourism has a significant multiplier effect in Africa in terms of job creation, with a direct effect on the economy and provides opportunities for product diversification, encourages multi-country visits, promotes longer stays, and reduces the challenges of seasonality and geographical spread thereby increasing the competitiveness of the destinations.”

She also stressed that, tourism plays a vital role in any country and can make significant contribution to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and thanked the Government of the People’s Republic of China for providing the platform and the various African countries for sending participants.

Thirteen (13) countries: Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe are in attendance.

Nigeria has four (4) participants: Messrs. Segun Adegbaju, Ibrahim Sule Malgwi, and Emeka Bokolo from National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO); and Mr. Victor Omoniyi of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC).

Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of gifts to each participant by Mr. Duan Zhouwu, just as participants from NICO also presented gifts to the Management of the Central Academy of Cultural Administration (CACA), Beijing.

Ibrahim Sule Malgwi

O-ES, NICO

(Reporting from Beijing, China)