Lagos World Tourism Day 2025 celebrates coastal beauty at Tarkwa Bay, highlighting aquatic heritage, culture and community-driven tourism

Lagos World Tourism Day 2025 was celebrated with colour and energy at Tarkwa Bay Island, as the state government joined the global community to mark the annual event.

Also read: Lagos selects Tarkwa Bay Beach for World Tourism Day

The celebration, themed “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” spotlighted Lagos’ unique coastal and aquatic assets while reaffirming the state’s ambition to attract tourism investment to waterfront communities.

Organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in partnership with the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP, South West Zone) and the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN, South West Zone), the gathering drew stakeholders, residents, and international visitors.

Representing the Commissioner for Tourism, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Tourism, Miss Damilola Ayinde-Marshall, explained that Tarkwa Bay was deliberately chosen to highlight Lagos’ water-based tourism potential. She stressed that the initiative would strengthen investment opportunities while empowering local communities.

NATOP President, Mrs Bolaji Mustapha, and FTAN Vice President (South West), Mr Gbenga Sumonu, commended Lagos for its training programmes in seafood preservation, heritage promotion and community tourism. Both leaders underlined that domestic tourism has the power to boost Nigeria’s economy, preserve culture and create new jobs.

Ambassador Ikechi Uko, a NATOP Trustee, described the event as historic, praising Lagos for moving tourism “from offices and conferences to real communities.”

The Lagos World Tourism Day 2025 celebration featured vibrant cultural performances, live music, exhibitions and networking opportunities.

Also read: Lagos, NATOP Join forces to showcase tourism at world travel market

Beyond its spectacle, it reinforced Lagos’ vision of tourism as a catalyst for sustainable development, community empowerment and global recognition.