The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Plateau State Ministry of Tourism, Hospitality and Culture and the Plateau State Tourism Corporation, has concluded a three-day strategic workshop aimed at developing a comprehensive Tourism Development Master Plan for Plateau State.
The engagement convened key actors across the tourism value chain, including representatives of the film and creative industry, tourism brands such as Explore Naija, Think Tourism and Discover Jos, alongside hoteliers, university scholars, tourism economists and development experts.
Private sector advisory firm Caskada Tourism Hospitality Consultants participated as one of the tourism companies engaged in the technical sessions.
UNDP brought in Lilly Ajarova, Senior Presidential Advisor on Tourism to the President of Uganda, as a resource person for the workshop.
Ajarova, widely recognised for her role in positioning Uganda as a competitive African tourism destination, shared insights on destination branding, institutional coordination, product development and sustainable tourism frameworks.
Her contributions were aimed at helping Plateau State benchmark its tourism strategy against continental best practices.
Focus Areas of the Master Plan
Participants conducted a structured assessment of Plateau’s tourism landscape, focusing on:
- Identifying existing tourism assets — natural attractions, cultural heritage, festivals and hospitality infrastructure
- Analysing market trends and available visitor statistics
- Evaluating current tourism policies and regulatory frameworks
- Assessing infrastructure gaps and service delivery standards
- Engaging stakeholders, local communities and private sector operators
Stakeholders examined how Plateau’s ecological features, temperate climate, rock formations, waterfalls and cultural diversity can be strategically packaged to attract domestic and international visitors.
Three-Day Structured Engagement
The programme was organised into three phases:
Day One – Technical Workshop:
Participants reviewed baseline data, discussed tourism performance indicators, identified strengths and gaps, and outlined priority focus areas for the master plan.
Day Two – Field Tour:
Delegates toured selected tourism sites and hospitality facilities to assess infrastructure quality, accessibility, visitor experience and investment potential.
Day Three – One-on-One Consultations:
Targeted stakeholder meetings were held with government officials, tourism operators, creatives, academics and private investors to refine recommendations and ensure inclusive input.
