As countries from the different regions of the world gather for this year’s Travel Indaba currently holding in South Africa, Nigeria’s Consular General to the country, Hon. Godwin Adama assured investors and tourists that the Nigeria has a lot of tourist attractions to whet their appetite.
The Consular gave the assurance during a meeting with Nigerian Travel Trade and Media hosted by South African Tourism which included the President of the Federation of Tourism Associations in Nigeria (FTAN), Alhaji Rabo Saleh, Hajia Bilkisu Abdul the President of Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), President of NANTA, the Organiser of Akwaaba African Travel market and Publisher of atqnews.com, Ikechi Uko and other leading media personalities from Nigeria.
According to a press statement by the Consul, the tourism sector is a huge sector of growth consisting almost 10% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) adding that the sector is responsible for 8.8% global jobs estimated at over 258 million, 4.5 % of the world’s investment and 5.8% of the world’s total export valued at $1.1 trillion.
He said over 1.2 billion tourists arrived in different destinations globally in 2016, including a yearly increase for the past two decades noting that this trend is set to increase in 2018 and beyond.
He said Nigeria with over 180 million people, is endowed with lots of natural resources, adding that the country has so much to offer in terms of landscape, culture, tourism and hospitality that can attract foreign investment to meet the needs of the global community.
Adama affirmed that Nigeria is replete with tourist attractions pointing out that there is no part of the country without one major tourist site or the other.
According to him, from east to the south, west and north, Nigeria is sustainably encircled by tourist centres that can effectively contribute to the country’s GDP adding that the Nigeria’s hospitality sector second to none.
“We are the most welcoming and hospitable people on earth. We treat guests and foreigners with utmost respect and this is embedded in our culture.”
He said tourists can take advantage many attractions in the country like Obudu Mountain Resort in Cross River State, Ogbunike Cave and Nike Resort in Enugu, Bar Beach in Lagos, Osun Osogbo Grove, Port Harcourt tourist beach among others.
He said the Nigerian Government has made it easier for intending travellers to the country to obtain visa on arrival once the application is done online early, adding that the Consulate General of Nigeria in South Africa had launched a Biometric Visa regime to comply with the International method of visa processing.
“Tourism is a huge sector of growth, consisting almost 10% of the global GDP. It is important to note that tourism is responsible for 8.8 percent global jobs estimated at over 258 million, 4.5% of the world’s investment in billion and 5.8% of the world’s total export valued at $1.1 trillion. Over 1.2 billion tourists arrived in different destinations globally in 2016, including yearly increase for the past two decades. This trend is set to increase in 2018 and beyond.
Nigeria is a country of over 180 million people, is endowed with large and cultural potential and sites in Africa. The country has so much to offer in terms of landscape, culture, tourism and hospitality that can attract foreign investment to meet the needs of the global community.
As a matter of fact, Nigeria is replete with tourist attractions. There is no part of the country without one major tourist site or the other. From east to the south, west and north, Nigeria is sustainably encircled by tourist centres that can effectively contribute to the country’s GDP. Moreover, Nigeria’s hospitality sector second to none. We are the most welcoming and hospitable people on earth. We treat guests and foreigners with utmost respect and this is embedded in our culture.
Among some of the many attractions in the southern axi are obudu mountain Resort in Cross River State, Ogbunike Cave and Nike Resort in Enugu, Bar Beach in Lagos, Osun Osogbo Grove and Port Harcourt tourist beach.
ATQ News