As the world celebrates Tourism Day tomorrow, the Vice President, South East, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Ugwu Uche, has described tourism as a dynamic force for development, cultural preservation, and societal renewal.
He gave the description during the celebration of the World Tourism Day 2025, with the global theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.”
The FTAN Vice President
also joined the international tourism community in acknowledging that tourism is more than leisure.
This theme, he said aligns perfectly with the Tourism Transformation Mandate launched by President, Aliyu Badaki, that calls for a new era of inclusiveness, innovation, and sustainability across Nigeria’s tourism landscape.
He said that the mandate is a reminder that tourism must be harnessed as a tool for economic empowerment, environmental stewardship, and social progress.
“For us in Nigeria, and particularly in the South East, the call to sustainable transformation is both urgent and timely. Alaigbo is blessed with rich culture, diverse heritage, and natural endowments, but its greatest asset remains its resilient and hospitable people. Through sustainable tourism practices, we can unlock opportunities for job creation, youth empowerment, investment attraction, and regional branding while preserving our cultural values and protecting our environment,” the FTAN Vice President said.
As the Vice President, South East FTAN, my vision is to lead in repositioning tourism across the States of the South East to meet global standards and compete favorably with other regions. Through creativity, innovation, and excellence, we aim to rebrand Alaigbo into a thriving tourism hub—one that tells our story, drives inclusive growth, and projects our region as a model of transformation,” he added.
He pointed out that to achieve this, government, private sector players, and host communities must act in synergy: developing infrastructure, implementing forward-looking policies, and ensuring that the benefits of tourism flow equitably to local people.
Sustainable transformation, he said requires deliberate partnerships and a collective commitment to long-term impact.
Uche posited that as the world reflects on this year’s theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” the mandate to transform tourism into a pathway of prosperity, sustainability, and resilience for Alaigbo, for Nigeria, and for Africa must be embraced.
World Tourism Day is celebrated on September 27 every year.
The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of tourism’s social, cultural, political, and economic value, and to highlight how it can contribute to sustainable development around the world.
Each year, the day focuses on a specific theme related to tourism. Does that help?
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