WTD : Minister says COVID vaccine nationalism hinders restart of tourism

 

. FG to states: See tourism as tools for poverty reduction

 

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said

‘COVID-19 vaccine nationalism’ is hindering the efforts being made to

restart the tourism sector, following the devastating blow it suffered

as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The Minister stated this in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, on Monday in

his address at the 44th Edition of the United Nations World Tourism

Day 2021 celebration, with the theme “Tourism for Inclusive Growth.”

 

He said the tourism sector, which is people-driven, can only open up

effectively and contribute to economic growth when the people are

adequately protected from COVID-19, adding that ‘vaccine nationalism’

has heightened the inequality and inequity in the global vaccine

distribution system.

 

“Today, rich countries are able to procure vaccines for their own

citizens through direct agreement with pharmaceutical companies; while

low and middle income countries are lagging, unable to act as speedily

as rich

countries in securing the quantity of vaccines they need or unable to

afford to pay for any at all. Whereas some rich countries are already

talking of third booster shots, many low and middle-income countries

have not even given one shot to their citizens.

 

“Added to this is the restriction placed on the citizens from certain

countries by the rich nations. These restrictions, made possible by

the use of ‘vaccine passports’, as well as the low level of

vaccination in the low and middle income countries due to ‘vaccine

nationalism’ that has seen rich countries mop up available vaccines,

are capable of thwarting the efforts to restart tourism,” Alhaji

Mohammed said.

 

He therefore called in the rich countries of the world to retrace

their steps and embrace a collective and equitable global strategy for

COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing, procurement, and distribution,

stressing that they must also stop ineffective nationalistic

disposition in COVID-19 responses.

 

The Minister added that COVID-19 response should be science-driven,

with experts in epidemiology, virology and the social sciences (not

politicians) taking the lead in devising and implementing

science-based strategies to reduce the risks that the pandemic poses

to the most vulnerable across the globe and to reduce transmission of

this novel virus.

 

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that tourism remains a

sector of hope, providing opportunities for empowerment and

entrepreneurship for people and education. I enjoin all stakeholders

to place inclusiveness at the centre of their strategies in order to

develop a safe, unique and overwhelming experience for visitors,” he

said.

 

In reference to the theme of the World Tourism Day 2021, Alhaji

Mohammed said inclusive growth deals with policies that allow people

from different groups; gender, ethnicity, religion and across sectors;

agriculture, manufacturing, etc to contribute to and benefit from

economic growth.

 

Dignitaries at the event include the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State,

Col. Samaila Yombe (Rtd); Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of

Information and Culture, Dr. Ifeoma Ayanwutaku, and management staff

of the

ministry; Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission,

Balarabe Shehu Illelah, and the DG of National Commission for Museums

and Monuments Abba Isa Tijani.

 

Others are the DG of Nigerian Institute for Cultural Orientation

Mohammed Ado Yahuza and DG of National Institute for Hospitality and

Tourism Nura Kangiwa; Executive Director, National Film and Video

Censors Board Adebayo Thomas; DG of the Nigeria Tourism Development

Corporation Folorunsho Coker; and General Manager, National Theatre,

Sunday Ododo.