Mr Li Xuda, Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy, said that tourism volunteers if utilised strategically, will enhance the tourism sector.
He said it would also strengthen the bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and China.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Li made the call during the “Nihao China” Tourism Course 2024 on Friday in Abuja.
Li, who is also the Director of the China Cultural Center in Nigeria, said cultural and tourism exchange played special and important roles in social progress and national development.
He also noted that the tourism sector has been described by the UNWTO as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing industries.
“China and Nigeria are cultural giants with fabulous ancient civilizations and rich tourism resources and to tell this story, it is important to harness the power of tourism volunteers,” he said.
Li also commended the Nigerian Tourism Volunteers Network for its valuable contribution to the development of the Nigerian tourism industry and the improvement of Nigeria’s image in the world.
Also, Mrs Nenadi Dogo, Acting Director of the Tourism Department, Social Development Secretariat, FCTA, said that investing in capacity building would not only elevate the quality of tourism services but also ensure that efforts in fostering friendship are successful and sustainable.
However she also noted that to fully unlock the benefits of this exchange, the language barrier between both countries must be addressed.
“Just as the Silk Road connected diverse civilizations, so too must we connect through a shared language and mutual understanding.
“While we hope to say ‘Nihao China’ really soon, it is our firm belief that in no distant time, a huge number of Chinese will be saying ‘Barka da dai Nigeria,’ ‘Ba woni Nigeria,’ or ‘Kedu Nigeria,” she said.
On his part, Phil Roberts, Director of the Tourism Volunteers Network, said; “Our collaboration with China is a strategic step towards harnessing the transformative potential of cultural exchange through volunteers.
“By merging our passion for volunteerism with China’s rich cultural heritage, we aim to create a catalyst for positive change in Africa,”Roberts said.
