Mr. Princewill Iminabo
Against the backdrop of the celebration of the 2026 World Tourism Day, the Rivers State Coordinator of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Mr. Princewill Iminabo called on associations, tourism practitioners, stakeholders and states actors to close ranks for tourism development in the state.
Speaking during the program of events to mark the 2026 World Tourism Day, organized by the state’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism at the Royal Hall, Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, Princewill Iminabo contended that tourism development in Rivers State cannot grow in the atmosphere where many tourism association exists outside the main organ established by the federal government to coordinate tourism development in the country. “That tourism organ is FTAN.” He stated;
“Tourism associations in Rivers State cannot function in isolation, we must come together as an entity to nurture tourism development in the state and the body statutorily empowered by the federal government to propagate tourism development in Nigeria is the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN);
“The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) operates across the 36 states and Abuja and is the rallying umbrella for tourism associations in Nigeria to meet. The 2026 World Tourism Day, as it is being celebrated all over the world, provides the opportunity for tourism practitioners, stakeholders and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to unite for the development of tourism in Rivers State.” He averred.
Harping on this year’s global theme, which is “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” the FTAN Chapter Chairman, Rivers State says, the theme highlights the growing impact of digital technology and Artificial Intelligence in the tourism industry and the opportunities they present for innovation, improved service delivery, business growth and sustainable tourism development.
While commending the Rivers State government for observing the World Tourism Day 2026, Iminabo charged tourism practitioners and stakeholders to be mindful that the occasion provides an important platform for industry players to come together, share ideas, strengthen collaboration and explore practical ways of leveraging technology and Artificial Intelligence, AI to transform the Nigerian tourism sector and Rivers State in particular for the good of the people.
Engr. GoodLife Nmekini
Stakeholders in the event called on the state government to establish a tourism digital roadmap to firmly situate tourism development in Rivers State so as to tap into the state’s tourism potentials. Of concerns were Cybersecurity, data privacy and lack of access to internet along tourism corridors. Concerns, they hold, the state government would provide funding for a sincere investment in tourism development to take roots in the state.
Both the Chairman of the occasion,. Engr. GoodLife Nmekini and the Guest Speaker, Dr. Honour Sirawo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communication were on one page that Artificial Intelligence, AI would power the economy of Rivers State and drive tourism development in the state. The speakers advocated for what they called smart tourism, digital roadmap systems, the deployment of mobile broad band and AI platforms to improve connectivity along tourism corridors and marketing.
Dr. Honour Sirawo
Further, to return Rivers State to the pivotal role it played in the establishment of FESTAC 77, Ignatius Chukwu, General Manager, Southsouth/Southeast, Business Day Newspaper, who was one of the discussants at the panel, called for funding of private sector initiatives to boost Tourism development in the state. “For Rivers State to return to its former place where it sets the space for others to follow, it must fund tourism businesses, create investment opportunities, branding and leveraging Artificial Intelligence to sell itself to the world.” He contended.
Earlier, the Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER) in a statement from its portal on the celebration of World Tourism Day says Africa must move from extractive tourism that destroys biodiversity to immersive tourism that funds its protection, noting that digital is the bridge.
ABER also called on African States to invest in National Digital Tourism Systems, AI-enabled marine monitoring, and youth-led BlueTech innovation hubs. According to the Roundtable, smart apps that enable tourists to report illegal fishing or log wildlife sightings, turning every visitor into a conservation partner, will go a long way in the fight against climate change, biodiversity loss and plastic pollution on the waterways.
ABER noted that for Africa, the three planetary crises, Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Plastic Pollution – are not separate from this year’s theme. For Africa’s Blue Tourism, they are the very reason we need AI and digital redesign in the first place. This aligns with ABER’s official position: Smart Blue Tourism – Where Code Meets Coast.
Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo who anchored the statement regretted that rising sea levels, coastal erosion, ocean warming, and extreme weather are destroying Africa’s prime tourism assets, from the beaches of Mombasa and Cape Town to the mangroves of the Niger Delta and the islands of Zanzibar.
Kiriayamo explained that AI models can forecast coastal erosion, flooding, and coral bleaching, enabling stakeholders to reroute tourists, warn communities, and design climate-resilient resorts. “African governments need to invest in digital tools to monitor and reduce the carbon footprint of hotels, boats, and flights, promoting low-carbon blue tourism. Without AI, we cannot climate-proof Africa’s blue tourism. With AI, we can sell resilience as an experience,” Kiyaramo said.
