The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described tourism as a tool towards reducing poverty and creating employment in society.
The Minister also described present-day tourism as an economic and global power.
He stated this on the occasion of the Forty-Fourth (44th) Edition of the United Nations World Tourism Day Celebration organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in collaboration with the Kebbi State Government held in Birnin Kebbi.
The Minister said tourism must be a responsibility of the three tiers of government which need serious collaboration in improving the sector.
He explains that the federal government was aware that, the best way of promoting tourism is the provision of infrastructure and security.
According to the Minister, the federal government is working towards opening up tourism for people not to see it as leisure or entertainment but as an economy.
He said, the choice of Kebbi State to host the World Tourism Day, as a result of the tourism potentials of the state that have been showcasing not only in the country but globally.
The Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu, expressed appreciation for choosing the state to host the event.
He assured to continue exploiting the state tourism potentials to the global world.
27th September of every year was set aside by the United Nations to mark World Tourism Day.
Reporting by Abdullahi Tukur, editing by Abdullahi Lamino