Experts Say Nigeria Yet to Harness Tourism Potential Despite ₦11.2 Trillion Industry Outlook
Experts Say Nigeria Yet to Harness Tourism Potential Despite ₦11.2 Trillion Industry Outlook
Tourism experts have said Nigeria is yet to fully harness the enormous economic potential of its tourism sector despite projections that the industry could contribute ₦11.2 trillion to the nation’s economy. They called for urgent reforms, increased investment and stronger policy implementation to unlock the sector’s vast opportunities.
The experts noted that Nigeria is endowed with diverse tourist attractions, rich cultural heritage, historical landmarks, wildlife reserves and vibrant festivals capable of attracting millions of local and international visitors. However, they argued that inadequate infrastructure, insecurity, poor destination marketing and weak policy implementation have continued to limit the sector’s growth.
According to the stakeholders, the tourism industry has the capacity to generate thousands of jobs, increase foreign exchange earnings and stimulate economic diversification if properly developed. They stressed that strategic investment in transportation, hospitality, security and tourism infrastructure would significantly improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global tourism market.
The experts also urged governments at all levels to collaborate with the private sector to promote sustainable tourism development, preserve cultural heritage sites and improve the quality of services offered across the industry. They maintained that stronger public-private partnerships would encourage investment and boost visitors’ confidence.
They further called for aggressive international promotion of Nigeria as a preferred tourism destination, saying the country possesses unique attractions capable of positioning it among Africa’s leading travel destinations. Improved security, better infrastructure and consistent policy support, they added, remain essential to achieving the projected growth of the sector.
Industry stakeholders expressed optimism that with the right reforms and sustained investment, tourism could become one of Nigeria’s leading non-oil revenue sources while contributing significantly to national economic development and employment generation.
