Nigeria, Emirates sign pact at 2025 Arabian travel market to boost tourism
In a landmark move to advance Nigeria's tourism sector, the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Emirates on Wednesday at the 2025 Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.
The collaboration, aimed at boosting inbound tourism to Nigeria, will enable Emirates to leverage its extensive global network of over 140 destinations to promote Nigeria's rich cultural heritage, diverse natural attractions, and vibrant cities to international audiences.
The agreement signed underscores the Ministry's commitment to implementing the President's Destination 2030 Soft Power Initiative, a key pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at positioning Nigeria as a global hub for culture, heritage, creativity, and leisure travel.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, expressed optimism about the future of Nigeria's tourism landscape, highlighting the partnership's potential to drive economic growth, create new opportunities for local communities, and reposition Nigeria as a leading tourism destination in Africa.
'This partnership with Emirates is a pivotal step towards achieving our tourism development objectives. It provides a powerful platform to tell Nigeria's story to the world — a nation of extraordinary culture, natural wonders, and unrivaled hospitality.
'By strengthening strategic international alliances, we are creating new opportunities for our local communities, driving economic growth, and repositioning Nigeria as the tourism heartbeat of Africa.'
Commenting, the Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates, Adnan Kazim, emphasized the airline's commitment to promoting Nigeria's unique attractions and warm hospitality to international travelers.
'Since resuming operations to Lagos in October 2024, we have focused on deepening our strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in Nigeria's aviation, tourism, and trade sectors.
'This partnership with the Nigerian Tourism Ministry solidifies our commitment to driving international travelers to experience the country's fascinating history, its urban cities, the untapped, stunning natural world, and, of course, the warm hospitality that characterizes Nigerian culture.'
The MoU outlined collaborative initiatives to attract visitors from key source markets, organize familiarization trips, offer incentives to trade partners and tour operators, and develop joint marketing programs.
The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), which is the Ministry's tourism promotion agency, will spearhead these efforts as part of a comprehensive strategy to revitalize the tourism sector and diversify the economy.
The MoU was formally signed by Adil Al Ghaith, Emirates' Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, and Abiola Abdulkareem, Special Assistant to the Minister on Sub-National Development and Tourism.
In attendance were the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Dubai, UAE, Zayyanu Ibrahim; Faiz Imam, Chief Adviser to the Minister; Boye Balogun, Programme Director for the Destination 2030 Nigeria Everywhere Initiative; Nabil Sultan, Emirates' Executive Vice President of Passenger Sales and Country Management; Paulos Lagesse, the airline's Country Director for Nigeria; and other senior officials and stakeholders.
The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy remains committed to fostering international collaborations, investing in tourism infrastructure, and elevating Nigeria's global profile as a preferred destination for culture, creativity, and leisure.
Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
2 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE tourism set for major expansion amid regional travel boom
4 June 2025 00:21 KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI) The UAE's tourism industry is poised to see unprecedented growth, with new data from the ATM Travel Trends Report 2025 predicting robust gains across key areas, including luxury travel, business tourism, and regional sports-driven segments. Released this week in Dubai, the report presents a rosy outlook for the nation's travel sector, backed by strategic investments, rising visitor numbers, and an expanding international in partnership with Tourism Economics, the report forecasts that tourism spending across the Middle East will reach $350 billion by 2030, a 50% increase from 2024 levels. The UAE, home to two of the region's most dynamic tourism hubs, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, is expected to play a central role in this surge.'The report's findings confirm that travel growth in the Middle East is incredibly strong, with annual growth averaging more than 7% through 2030. Bold national visions, game-changing developments, and enhanced connectivity are some of the key factors driving this momentum,' said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market. Total tourism nights in the UAE are expected to grow by 10% in 2025 and an annualised rate of 6% to 2030, with Dubai alone projected to see a 14% increase, the report said. While Abu Dhabi's tourism nights dipped by 1% in 2024, the capital is still investing heavily in infrastructure, experiences, and luxury properties to reverse the travel to the UAE is on a strong trajectory, growing by 11% annually, while outbound travel is also rising, particularly to the UK, Thailand, and report found that visitors to the UAE are increasingly drawn by leisure (35%) and business (25%) travel, supported by improved connectivity and bold national visions. The country is also embracing travel technology: 60% of UAE travellers now trust AI to plan their trips, compared to a global average of 48%. Top Choice for Wealthy Visitors Tourism Economics found that luxury tourism remains a core driver of the UAE's appeal. The report reveals that nearly 100 out of the Middle East's over 170 luxury hotels are located in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with 22 more currently under development. Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, for example, was highlighted as an emerging key destination for affluent travellers. The rise of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth visitors to the UAE is set to fuel a broader shift in regional hospitality. The Middle East, and the UAE in particular, is attracting travellers who are not only spending more but also seeking immersive, curated experiences.'Travellers drawn to the Middle East tend to spend more on travel overall, nearly 60% habitually spending on luxury experiences while travelling compared to under 40% among travellers who favour other destinations,' added Curtis. 'Bleisure' and Sports Business travel is also booming in the UAE, with the report expecting the segment to grow 1.5 times faster than the global average through 2030. The nation's central location between Asia, Africa, and Europe, coupled with state-of-the-art infrastructure, is positioning it as a global hub for business events and has led to the emergence of the 'bleisure' trend where business trips are extended to include leisure time — especially in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where shopping, entertainment, and beach resorts offer seamless transitions between work and relaxation, the report said. Moreover, with Saudi Arabia set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, the entire Gulf region — including the UAE — is expected to benefit from a 63% surge in sports tourism. Golf, motorsports, football, cycling, and esports are all gaining traction across the UAE, bolstered by new venues and global tournaments. This influx is driving demand for hotels, air travel, and on-ground services, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi at the forefront of event-driven tourism.
Gulf Today
7 hours ago
- Gulf Today
UAE to implement Midday Break for 21st consecutive year from June 15 to Sept.15, 2025
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has announced the implementation of the Midday Break, prohibiting work under direct sunlight and in open-air spaces between 12:30 pm and 3:00 pm, from 15 June to 15 September 2025. Now in its 21st consecutive year, the Midday Break is rooted in a sustainability-centred approach that the UAE implements in line with its commitment to providing a safe working environment as per international best practices and occupational health and safety standards, protecting workers from injuries and illnesses caused by working in high temperatures during the summer months. Under the terms of the Midday Break, companies are required to provide necessary supplies and arrangements, including shaded areas to protect workers from the sun during the break or while performing permitted tasks. They must also ensure appropriate cooling equipment is available, such as fans, adequate quantities of drinking water, and hydration supplements like electrolytes as approved for use by local authorities, along with other amenities and first-aid supplies at the Midday Break regulations take into account the need for continuity in certain types of work that serve public interests. Exemptions apply to tasks that must continue uninterrupted for technical reasons, such as laying asphalt or pouring concrete when it is unfeasible to complete these activities after the exclusions include work required to address hazards or repair issues that impact the community, such as disruptions to water or electricity supply, traffic congestion, and malfunctions in basic services. The exemption also covers activities that require a permit from a competent government authority due to their impact on public life and Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation works to assess the level of compliance with the Midday Break requirements among companies, using its monitoring system throughout the duration of the initiative. Moreover, the Ministry welcomes reports of harmful practices or violations flagged by members of the community through its call centre at 600590000, website, or smart companies will be fined Dhs5,000 for every worker per breach, up to a maximum of Dhs50,000 if several workers were found to be in violation. The Ministry will also escalate its awareness campaigns and field visits, in coordination with its public and private sector partners, to educate workers and employers about the provisions of the Midday Break and the necessity to comply with regulations in that regard. Mohsin Ali Al Nassi, Assistant Undersecretary for Inspection & Compliance at MoHRE said, "The Midday Break has achieved a record compliance rate of more than 99% for several years in a row, in a clear indication of the firmly entrenched social and humanitarian values among the business community and private sector companies in the UAE. This also highlights the high level of awareness regarding the need to protect human capital, the most valuable resource in any company, reflecting the commendable and people-centred nature of labour regulations and practices embraced in the UAE, especially with regards to occupational health and safety.' Al Nassi highlighted the Ministry's commitment to raise awareness among establishments and their workers about the importance of adhering to the provisions of the Midday Break through field visits by inspectors to workplaces and labour accommodations. This contributes to enhancing awareness of occupational health and safety requirements and protecting workers from heat-related illnesses. For her part, Dalal Alshehhi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Protection at MoHRE, said, "The Midday Break has become a prime example of constructive partnerships between the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the private sector, and the wider community, with many partners developing their own initiatives to support workers while the Midday Break is in effect,' Alshehhi added. "This reinforces the principle of social responsibility and ensures the success of our awareness strategies, further embedding humanitarian values in the UAE's work environment, which welcomes more than 200 nationalities to live, work, and invest, in line with the objectives of the 'We the UAE 2031' vision.' Alshehhi commended private sector establishments that have taken the initiative over recent years to provide fully equipped rest areas designed to ensure workers' utmost comfort during the daily Midday Break, demonstrating these establishments' strong commitment to ensuring workers' well-being before they resume their daily duties after the break. She urged all private sector establishments to adopt similar initiatives, which have a positive impact on workers' health and contribute to enhanced productivity. WAM
Gulf Today
7 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Emirates, Air China ink MoU to explore enhanced partnership
Emirates and Air China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a strategic framework for expanding their existing reciprocal interline cooperation. The signing took place on the sidelines of the 81st Annual General Meeting (IATA AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) in New Delhi. The MoU was signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates' Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer and Yan Fei, Air China's Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, accompanied by senior executives from both sides. Adnan Kazim said, 'Our partnership with Air China commenced 26 years ago, and approximately 18,000 Emirates customers have benefited from the expanded connectivity offered through our interline agreement. Building on this success, we've recently announced the launch of two new Chinese cities—Shenzhen and Hangzhou—which will strengthen our East Asia operations." Yan Fei said, 'Air China highly values the cooperation with Emirates. The signing of this memorandum is an important milestone for the deepening of the cooperation between the two sides." Under the MoU, Emirates and Air China will explore a reciprocal codeshare on select routes across each other's networks. This would allow each airline to place its code on the other's flights on China-UAE trunk routes as well as beyond Beijing and Dubai to an expanded list of points. * Emirates and Air China will also develop a framework for cooperation across cargo operations and respective frequent flyer loyalty programme, enhancing their value proposition for both travellers and businesses. To further ensure seamless connectivity for customers, the two carriers will explore coordinating flight schedules or adjusting minimum connecting times. Once activated, customers of both airlines will benefit from a seamless booking process, single ticket itineraries and wider lounge access to new and exciting destinations. Beyond commercial cooperation, both carriers plan to exchange best practices in areas such as revenue management, data analytics, digitalisation, brand management and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), among others, through joint knowledge sharing and familiarisation visits. From 30th July, Emirates will operate 49 weekly flights to the Chinese mainland, including double daily services to Beijing and Shanghai as well as daily flights to Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hangzhou. WAM
