The Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade-John, has announced that Nigeria is poised to become a leading global destination, with the tourism sector contributing 3.65% about $17.3 billion to the country’s 2022 GDP.
She announced this at the just concluded 3-day Akwaaba African Travel Market 2024 in Lagos.
According to her, the sector employs 1.91 million people, with plans to multiply this number in the coming years.
Reeling out statistics on how the sector has faired, the minister of tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade-John said, domestic tourism saw a significant increase in 2023, with 3 million trips, a 20% rise from the previous year, while the country welcomed 1.2 million international visitors, boosting foreign exchange.
The Minister stressed the importance of the youth in driving the tourism industry, with 70% of the population under 30.
She noted that 65% of domestic trips in 2023 were undertaken by travelers aged 18-35, and that youth-led tourism startups have grown by 150% in the last three years.
“Social media engagement in travel content has surged 300% among Nigerian youth since 2021.80% of our tourism workforce is under 40, bringing innovation and digital savvy to the sector”.
According to her, the Federal Ministry of Tourism has outlined its plans to unlock the sector’s potential, including implementing a National Tourism Policy and Tourism Development MasterPlan, leveraging technology to develop a comprehensive tourism database, and partnering with private sector players to drive digital transformation.
The Minister emphasized the need for collaboration between the government, private sector, media, and civil society to achieve the country’s tourism goals.
“But here is the truth: Government cannot do this alone. We need the private sector, media, and civil society to join us. This is your call to action. The future of Nigerian and African tourism are in your hands”.
She called on stakeholders to join the government in reshaping the tourism landscape and harnessing the energy of the youth to propel Nigeria to the forefront of global tourism.
The Minister commended the organizers of the Akwaaba African Travel Market 2024, Ambassador Ikechi Uko for his vision and dedication, and urged everyone to take action to make Nigeria a major player in the global tourism industry.
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