In the pool of the current economic confusion in the country, Nigeria can find a friend in tourism especially in the country’s search for economy diversification. Tourism which could be regarded as a mere excursion of pleasure could be richer than a pot of gold if discovered and well managed. According to research, tourism brings in large amounts of income into a local economy in form of payments of goods and services needed by tourists. This alone amounts to 30% of world trade of services.
Nigeria as a country has all it takes to be the best globally as far as tourism is concerned, going by the country’s natural endowments in tourism. Aside from Olumirin water fall in Erin Ijesha, Osun state, Osun river in Osogbo, Idanre hills in Ondo state and even the temples of deities in Ile Ife, Nigeria has other tourist attractions like the relics of slave trade in Badagry, Obudu ranch in Cross River among countless others.
In diversifying Nigeria’s economy, tourism is highly instrumental that its role can be second to none as it has helped some countries of the world to gain the world relevance they proud to have now. According to reports, the Common Wealth of the Bahamas is made up of about 700 islands though most of the islands are uninhabited. Its capital, Nassau is located on the island of Providence, the entire population of Bahamas is about 300,000 out of which about 185,000 live in providence, the biggest of all the islands is Grand Bahamas. Despite the small population of 300,000, the country receives as many as five million tourists annually. This alone is enough to be the motivation of a big country like Nigeria with countless resources and able men and women.
The fact that most of Nigerian tourist endowments are associated with the country’s diverse tribes, cultures and even religions. This is not a sufficient reason to isolate those tourist attractions, they must be discovered and be managed by the appropriate tourist and cultural authorities in order to maximize it for apt economic benefit. Going by records of tourism in other countries of the world, tourism is the only realm that is capable of boosting the aviation sector, hotels and transportation simultaneously. If recognized and managed, tourism could lead the country out of the pit of economic recession it found itself which has made things terrible economically.
If Nigerian government and other economic stakeholders are really determined in diversifying the country’s economy which will in turn stop it from been oil dependent, tourism is the only resources that can make Nigeria bigger than just been Africa’s largest economy. Tourism is the reason why Egypt is the most visited country in Africa, tourism has no season or barrier and its economic benefit is limitless.
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