Stimulating tourism in Nigeria

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation, home to over 15% of the continent’s people – it’s also Africa’s second largest oil producing nation after Angola. What is more, the country is tipped to be the second economic superpower on the continent - after South Africa - because of strong macroeconomic and political reforms and a growing consumer class.

However, the fact that national wealth is largely dependent on commodity exports, and oil prices have dropped by more than 50% over the past year, has meant that the government must look to other sectors, such as tourism, to bolster the economy. It was to this end that the South Economic Summit was held to promote cooperation between the region’s states.

African Sun, who was a summit sponsor, is committed to Nigeria and is increasing its investment in the region. To date, the group has provided employment for over 500 Nigerians and is planning on opening a hospitality school in the country. It goes further than business though, African Sun hosted Gabe Onah, special advisor to the Calabar Governor and Mrs Elenda Osima-Dokubo of the Cross River State Carnival Commission, at the recent tourism Indaba in Durban.

We believe that their presence at this event is a sure sign that authorities in Nigeria are taking tourism seriously. And well they should, since it is well positioned to provide immediate revenues and create advocates of the country as a destination for investment and travel.

When commodity prices rebound and the oil money is flowing again, the understanding of the role tourism plays in not just revenue generation, but nation building, should hopefully be well enough entrenched that the sector still receives the priority it is now being given.