Tourism will boost Nigeria’s economy -Expert

A tourism expert, Mr Ahmed Mohammed, has said that Nigeria’s tourism, if properly harnessed, would boost its economy.

Mohammed, a member of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), said this in an interview with the News men on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that priority should be given to the tourism sector to utilise its economic potential.

According to him, for any country to maximise its tourism potential, the sector should be given priority by the government and other stakeholders.

He added that tourism was one of the key ingredients that any country needed in order to experience a turnaround in its economy.

According to him, Nigeria’s economy would experience a turn around when tourism is given priority.

“Recognition of the role of tourism in the growth and development of the sector and to be funded so that its impact can be felt in the economy,” he said.

Mohammed said that as Nigeria seeks diversification of her economy, tourism was a key sector besides agriculture to develop as it is the oil of today.

According to him, the number of people who contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the sector, in terms of employment, both skilled and unskilled labour, increases.

He appealed to the Federal Government to take critical steps by bringing stakeholders together to do the needful for tourism to thrive in the country.

Mohammed said if Nigeria wants to benefit from the economic potentials that the sector is blessed with, branding and marketing of tourism products are very key.

“The importance of human capital and capacity in manning the country’s vast tourism resources cannot be over emphasised.

“Thus, training and skill acquisition of personnel that run the industry is very germane, ” he said.

Mohammed said that safety and security measures must be ensured at all tourist destinations, and along corridors to tourist sites and locations across Nigeria..

“Safety of tourists must be very paramount to ensure repeat visits as well as referral to other intending tourists, ” he said.

According to him, the country also needed to improve on its monitoring and evaluation.

Mohammed said that the country had to improve on its data collection to have a reliable figure and dependable statistics of tourism activities in the country.

“This will help in the areas of providing job opportunities, enhancing cultural exchange, and promoting sustainable development,” he said.

He added that engaging all stakeholders from government to local communities, would be critical for the successful transformation of the tourism sector in Nigeria.

” Tourism contributes to the nation’s GDP because tourism is a multifaceted industry that cuts across diverse trades, services and allied economic activities.