50,000 Nigerians visit South Africa annually
50,000 Nigerians visit South Africa annually – The South African High
Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Lulu Mnguni, on Wednesday said that about
50,000 Nigerians visited South Africa for tourism annually.
Mnguni
told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 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.
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 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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