As the world commemorates International Tourism Day, the Federal Government has reaffirmed Nigeria’s vast tourism potential, declaring its ambition to position the sector as a catalyst for economic transformation.
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, told THISDAY that Nigeria is targeting a contribution of more than N7.2 trillion to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the creation of 2.5 million jobs from the tourism sector by the end of 2025.
Musawa stressed that tourism, with its inexhaustible opportunities, has the potential to rival and even surpass oil as a revenue source for Nigeria.
Globally, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) projects that the industry will contribute about $11.7 trillion to the world economy in 2025, representing 10.3 per cent of global GDP. The WTTC also estimates that tourism will support around 371 million jobs worldwide this year.
On the continental stage, Africa’s tourism sector grew by 12 per cent in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to a recent United Nations report, underscoring the region’s rising profile as a global travel destination.
