The International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) announced that the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has joined as a destination member.

Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), had this to say about Nigeria’s registration as a destination member of ICTP: “Nigeria is blessed with abundant cultural tourism and diversity. To complement this legacy is the uncommon warmth and hospitality of Nigerians. Foreigners are often amazed when they visit Nigeria and experience the Nigerian hospitality, and they always look forward to coming back.

“We have continued to explore international market platforms to promote Nigeria, and in ICTP, we find an enduring partner in our quest to celebrate Nigeria, while adapting to the latest practices in tourism development. Welcome to Nigeria, the home of abundant tourism potential.”

Organized tourism in Nigeria dates back 50 years when The Nigerian Tourist Association was established in 1962 by a group of private practitioners. It was their aim to project Nigeria’s tourism potentials and encourage domestic and international tourism activities. Within a couple of short years, in 1964, their work led to the admission of Nigeria as a full member of the International Union of Official Travel Organization (IUOTO), now known as the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), along with the establishment of the Nigerian Tourism Board.

In 1992, the Nigerian Tourism Board became the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation - the apex tourism agency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The NTDC is responsible today for the overall responsibility of promoting, marketing, and coordinating tourism activities in Nigeria.

ICTP President Prof. Geoffrey Lipman said: “Nigeria is the biggest market in Africa with significant ‘travelism’ promise. As a member of ICTP, the Tourism Development Corporation will have a great opportunity to build environmental management at the heart of its development strategies. We look forward to working with them and Nigeria’s aviation and tourism community.”

The Chairman of ICTP, Juergen T. Steinmetz, said: “We could not find a better representative to be our first destination member from Nigeria than the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation itself. It has a long history of commitment to and passion for the tourism industry in its country.”