Despite the abundance of tourist sites in the
country, many Nigerians still prefer to travel to South Africa for tourism.
Mnguni disclosed in
Lagos that Nigerians constituted about 50,000 of the recorded annual average of
about 10 million foreign tourists.
“South Africa has
really been able to harness her tourism potential to continue to attract
internal and external tourists.
“South Africa
receives an average of about 10 million foreign tourists yearly, including
about 50,000 Nigerian visitors,’’ he
said.
said.
The high
commissioner, who said that his government was ready to share its tourism
development expertise with Nigeria, noted that Nigeria was endowed with
potential that needed to be harnessed.
According to him,
Nigeria is blessed with a large population and rich tourism potential in favour
of its tourism development.
Mnguni, who
restated his government’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in making the sector
viable, also enjoined Nigeria to encourage Public Private Partnership in the
sector’s development.
“We have always
believed that when Nigeria is strong, South Africa also becomes strong.
“Nigeria has all
the attributes of becoming an enviable tourism destination. We will therefore,
like to see Nigeria build her potential into a very strong economic pillar.
“As South Africa,
we do not want to be an island of prosperity in a sea of poverty. We really
want to develop alongside with our strategic partners like Nigeria,’’ he said.
Mnguni also
expressed his government’s readiness to support Nigeria in addressing problems
of poverty, unemployment, homelessness and marginalisation.
He also said that
his government would continue to sustain a mutually beneficial partnership with
Nigeria as well as promote cordial relationship between the citizens of both
countries.
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