Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism and one of the world’s leading tourism ministers, Mr. Edmund Bartlett has congratulated the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN) on the official flag off of its state chapter in Ekiti State.

Barthlett, who is the Chairman of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, University of West Indies, Kingston Jamaica, commended the Ekiti state government for its unwavering dedication to advancing tourism in the state.

He posited that, ” advancing and cultivating tourism offers a pathway to overcoming the obstacles or challenges that a landlocked geography might present e.g by generating employment and  fostering economic development, enhancing infrastructure that benefit visitors and residents, showcasing the state’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty to a broader audience, generating employment, offering a platform for local talents, products and services to gain exposure in global markets.

He stated further, that Ekiti is endowed with natural wonders and products with the potential to draw visitors from across Nigeria and beyond hence, investing in tourism infrastructure and effectively promoting these attractions can unlock substantial economic potential for the state.”

He concluded that through collective effort to highlight Ekiti state cultural and natural assets, opportunities to generate employment, stimulate economic growth and enhance the lives of its citizens can be leveraged to establish Ekiti state as a premier tourism destination and a model for sustainable development.

The Hon. Edmund Bartlett is global leader in tourism entrepreneuship, diversification,  resilience and management. He was the former Chairman of the Board of United Nations World Tourism Affiliate Members and Vice Chair of the UNWTO Executive Council amongst several global leadership roles in his over 4 decades career.

Hon. Edmund Bartlette C.P MD is currently the founder and Co – Chair of the Board of Global Tourism Resilience  and Crisis Management Centre,