JALINGO- The Taraba State Government has earmarked N45.4 million for hosting this year’s edition of World Tourism Day.

Alhaji Aminu Jika, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, told newsmen in Jalingo that the event would take place on September 27 in Gembu town on the Mambilla Plateau.

He said the state government had provided all the necessary internal structures for the event with the theme: “How climate changes affect the environment”.

The commissioner noted that “the scenic beauty” of Taraba as it has been described by the national tourism development plan, gave it the hosting right.

Jika said the state was blessed with enormous tourism potential, “which, if properly harnessed, will generate substantial revenue to the nation and create jobs.”

He said the greatest task ahead was to develop the infrastructure of the tourism sites in Wukari, Ibi and Gembu to stimulate both local and foreign investments in the sector.

He suggested a partnership between the state and the Federal Government in infrastructural development to revive the national athletics camp in Gembu.

He said “in the next four years, people will stop going to Europe for site seeing if infrastructure is improved and investment is encouraged with comfort and security at these sites.’’