With 52 countries across Africa, hundreds of ethnic groups, and a wildly diverse landscape, it’s easy to assume that Nigeria might get lost among the vast tourist attractions. But the reality is far from it. Nigeria has started to stand out as an attractive African destination.
Millions of international tourists visit Nigeria every year. These tourists arrive with their sights set on seeing national landmarks like Zuma Rock, glimpsing wildlife at wildlife reserves like Yankari Game Reserve, basking on the stunning, sandy shoreline of Ibeno Beach, walking through the busy markets and shops, visiting galleries and museums, or simply unwinding at an all-inclusive paradise resort.
In 2024, Nigeria’s tourist industry is projected to garner over $3 billion. This amount is expected to increase to just over $5.5 billion over the next decade. These projections and strong performance in recent years, except during the pandemic, show that while Nigeria still has challenges to address regarding tourism, it’s a steadily growing industry.
Tourism isn’t dying here at all; instead, it holds great promise for the future of Nigeria’s economy.
This promising future didn’t just happen; it’s the result of carefully laid groundwork by the government and private sectors, along with tourism trends that make Nigeria an appealing destination to more travellers than ever before. There are five main factors propelling Nigeria’s tourism forward.
1. The Rise of Local Tourism
Nigeria is one of the strongest economies in Africa, having only recently fallen from the continent’s leading economic position. The strength of the economy has resulted in a growing middle class and increasing disposable income, which Nigerians are using to explore their country. Statista highlights that domestic travel is the largest contributor to Nigeria’s tourism revenue.
The development of domestic tourism has been one of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation’s (NTDC) initiatives to grow the hospitality and tourism industry to support the country’s overall economic goals.
2. The Growing Allure of Eco-Tourism and Cultural Tourism
Both eco-tourism and cultural tourism are different approaches to visiting destinations, and both have been increasing in popularity since the 1980s and 1990s.
With eco-tourism, the approach is to enter new destinations as an environmental steward of the site you’re visiting. Nigeria presents the perfect opportunity for this type of travel with its vast array of wildlife reserves, national parks, conservation spaces, unique species of flora and fauna, and a wide range of historic sites. These sites don’t see the same crowds of tourists as other places in the world, putting less strain on the environment surrounding the site.
Adding to this appeal for environmental enthusiasts is that Nigeria is a place to marvel at the natural world while fulfilling the desire for a break from the mundane with an enjoyable getaway.
Meanwhile, cultural tourism is all about immersing yourself in the culture you’re visiting to learn, understand, and appreciate it. With over 500 languages and 250 ethnic groups offering diverse food, music, art, and history, Nigeria has many opportunities to explore different cultures and learn.
3. The Development of Tourist Sites and Accommodations
Part of the Nigerian government’s efforts through the NTDC to increase tourism involved partnering with private organizations, such as hotel and resort groups. These efforts have also led to the construction or updating of sites to accommodate tourists, such as wildlife reserves and national parks.
Over time, these efforts have started to pay off, not only by increasing the number of visitors to the country but also by attracting international companies to Nigeria, such as the Marriott and Hilton hotel chains.
4. The Addition of Stronger Infrastructure
Investments in infrastructure like roads, transit systems, and airports have been made, and continue to be made, across the country to make visiting and navigating the country easier and more enjoyable. These improvements don’t just benefit tourists but also locals. In addition to road and airport updates, the country is also investing a great deal in high-speed internet, providing more accessibility to residents while also making it more enjoyable for tourists.
5. The Affordability of Travel
The vast array of tourist options developed has also created a destination that people of different means can enjoy without overstretching their budget. For accommodations, there are options ranging from hostels to all-inclusive resorts and casino hotels. However, with online options like slot demo Nolimit City Blood Shadow, any accommodation can feel like a casino hotel.
There’s also a vast range of food options at affordable prices, and when it comes to activities, there are even options you can participate in for free.
There Are Still Barriers to Overcome
While Nigeria has made strides in becoming more tourist-friendly, there’s an overarching concern about the safety of travelling there. Governments, like those in the UK and the US, advise their citizens to reconsider travelling to the country. These governments cite civil unrest, terrorism, armed gangs, carjackings, home invasions, and kidnappings as serious concerns.
These concerns present a significant hurdle to jump over, and while there’s a great deal of awareness of why and how these concerns came to be, there is no straightforward or quick solution. Despite the unease, the country has found ways to create tourist opportunities, such as encouraging domestic travel for its residents.
Nigeria’s Tourism Industry Is Just Starting to Thrive
Thanks to Nigeria’s unique cultures, wildlife, and landscapes, the country appeals to many types of travellers. Adding to this appeal is all the work the government has put into shaping a tourism-friendly destination. As a result, there’s no doubt that tourism in Nigeria will continue to grow in the years to come.