Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) has concluded arrangements to organise her first ever tourism promotion conference in the historic city of Vienna, Austria on the 1st of June 2016.
The conference which has received the blessing of all NIDO Europe Chapter chairs would be hosted by the Austrian Chapter under the leadership of Engr. Oluyemi Ogundele.
The conference has become necessary based on the fact that the country can generate foreign exchange, provide employment and accelerate rural urban integration by developing the tourism sector.
Nigeria offers a wide variety of tourist attractions such as extended and roomy river, waterfalls and ocean beaches ideal for swimming and other water sports, unique wildlife, vast tracts of unspoiled nature ranging from tropical forest, some new rapidly growing cities and climatic conditions in some parts particularly conducive to holidaying.
Other attractions include traditional ways of life preserved in local customs; rich and varied handicrafts, Museums, Historic sites and other colourful products depicting or illustrative of native arts and lifestyle, and the authentic unsophisticated but friendly attitude of many in the Nigerian population.
According to the organisers, the main objective of the conference is to scout for investors for the tourism sector in Nigeria and to inform the potential investors of the expected benefits.
The potential of the industry has remained untapped for many years.
The other area of concentration during the one day conference is the area of familiarising potential guest on the available attractions in Nigeria.
The main target group is the Diaspora themselves; because instead of spending their hard earn money in Spain, Greece, Italy and other countries all over Europe they could take time off and spend their holidays in Nigeria.
The organiser stated that: “The country has over 20 million of them and that can help revive Nigeria economy. Secondary target group are the Europeans who are ignorant of the potential in Nigeria; we need to showcase our rich cultural heritage and our numerous tourist locations. Under the motto ‘Why Wonder, visit the wonder land’ they are expecting different states tourism board to make presentation on what they have to offer the potential guests.
There would also be presentations from different tourism experts during the conference; Institutions like the NTDC, the Federal Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National orientation and many states ministry of culture and Tourism are expected to grace the occasion.
The grand finale would be a Nigerian Cultural Festival to be held on the 2nd of July 2016, a day after the conference. The Carnival organised by the Yoruba Community in Austria (Egbe Omo Oduduwa Vienna, Austria) is tagged “ADIRE CARNIVAL” Similar to the one organised in June 2013 by the National Association of Nigerian Community Austria, the carnival parade would take the participants round the city of Vienna and terminate at the main event centre for stage performance. The guest would be treated to dances and cultural performances from different states of Nigeria. NIDOE-Austrian chapter would be hosting all NIDOE chapter chairs, VIPs from the executive and the parliamentary arm of the government as well as stars from Nollywood industry.