Tourism is one of the biggest economic activities in the world today. It involves the pursuit of recreation, relaxation, and pleasure, while raking on monies for various economies.

Statistics show that in Africa, tourism industry is a major foreign exchange earner for many countries.

For instance, in Kenya tourism industry earnings surged 83 per cent in 2022 to $2.13 billion as COVID curbs eased, according to a Reuters report.

In a report published earlier this year, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Tourism said it generated $3.2 billion in revenue over the past nine months.

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A statista study on tourism market showed that in 2023 showed that U.S led ranking for incomes from tourism with $190.39 billion, followed by China with $154.02 billion.

Conversely, Nigeria’s tourism market, according to local media report was projected at $2.953 by the end of 2023 and expected rise to $3.746 billion in 2027.

For a country with enamours tourism potential and a huge market, analysts say the sector has the potential to be a major foreign exchange earner for an economy yearning for diversification from oil export.

Stakeholders say the coming of President Bola Tinubu’s administration provides Nigeria the opportunity to revaluate and reposition its tourism sector for greater performance.

They said establishment of Ministry of Tourism, removed as appendix of other ministries such as trade, culture, and information by the administration  was a bold call.

Experts have agreed that the establishment of stand-alone Ministry of Tourism by president Tinubu will make Nigeria a prefer destination for tourists across the world, and position Nigeria as the leading business tourist destination in Africa.

Stakeholders expect that the move will increase the revenue generation capacity of not all the Federal Government but also other tiers of government and bring about development that would reposition the sector.

Mrs Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism, during an interactive session with members of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET), reiterated the position the sector a major foreign exchange earner.

According to her this is in line with the Tinubu administration’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.

The minister said, with a stand-alone ministry of tourism, there were plans to engage local community leaders in safeguarding and promoting identified tourism assets across the country.

She further acknowledged the setbacks experienced in the tourism industry under previous administrations where the sector was lumped together with others such as information, and culture.

Ade-John also   underscored the imperative for transformative action, stating, “We cannot afford to remain stagnant”

“My plan is the revival of essential documents and instruments, including the Presidential Tourism Council, Tourism Master Plan, and comprehensive inventories of tourism assets spanning federal, state, and local government jurisdictions.

“These initiatives signify a concerted effort to create an environment conducive for sustainable tourism development,” she said.

The minister during her tenure there would be deliberate efforts at enhancing conservation efforts and curbing encroachments threatening Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.

This, she said, would be achieved by fostering partnerships with grassroot stakeholders .

“As the nation embraces diversification strategies, the tourism industry being a stand-alone Ministry, stands as a beacon of opportunity, poised to drive economic growth, foster cultural exchange, and showcase Nigeria’s rich heritage to the world’’, she said.

Similarly, Mr  Olorunsho Coker, the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) praised President Tinubu for creating the Ministry of Tourism.

“We are immensely grateful to Tinubu for recognising the potential of tourism as a cornerstone for Nigeria’s economic progress”, Coker said.

He added that the creation of the stand-alone Ministry of Tourism underscored the significance of thes sector, both as an engine for economic growth and a catalyst to showcasing Nigeria’s rich heritage and its beauty in diversity.

Mr Nkereuwem Onung, President, Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria praised  Tinubu for heeding to the collective voice of the tourism  industry by creating a separate ministry for it.

Onung says this speaks volumes about the government’s commitment to harnessing the socio-economic benefits that tourism offers.

“This significant step of creating a stand-alone ministry dedicated to tourism underscored a momentous milestone in the advancement of our nation’s vibrant tourism industry.

“We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to all individuals and organisations who tirelessly advocated for the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Tourism.

“The united effort of the tourism community, industry stakeholders, and supporters has paved the way for this historic development, and we are grateful for their unwavering commitment and passion.”

Also, the National President of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, added that the creation of a Ministry of Tourism could turn out to be the fastest means of boosting the nation’s economy.

Odusanwo was quoted by media reports as saying that tourism remained one of the most viable alternatives to petroleum.

For a country struggling with job creation, Odusanwo said the tourism had the potential to be a major employer of labour.

According to him, it can stimulate income generation, foreign exchange earnings, internally generated revenue with the attendant multiplier on the economy

“Globally, tourism remains one of the greatest contributing sectors to the economies of most countries, accounting for the substantial income generation and foreign exchange earnings.

“Nigeria can do a lot better if the necessary recognition and attention are accorded to the sector as a viable economic venture that is capable of massive job creation and poverty eradication’’, he said.

Regulation of hospitality industry and practitioners in the sector has been a major source of headache to previous governments. Industry experts hold that the ministry of tourism has the potential to end that.

According to President, Hotel Owners Forum Abuja (HOFA), Funmi Kazeem, the ministry of tourism, would help the Federal Government to strengthen regulations of the hospitality industry.

This, he said, would help in reducing crimes in the sector, especially in hotels.

“If government can make it in such a way that every hotel is well regulated, the issue of criminality will reduce’’, Kazeem said in a recent media report.

He said the association had about 300 members out of estimated one thousand hotels in the FCT.

She alleged that the remaining 700 hotels by hiding their operations and identifies, such hotels could evade taxation and provide safe haven for criminals.

“They don’t pay tax. Federal Inland Revenue Service does not know them and they make more money; and people prefer to go there because they feel they are hidden.

“People know hotels under HOFA and we don’t want our names to be associated with evil.

“I think  with the Federal Ministry of Ministry of Tourism, the Federal Government can do a lot by regulating our operations’’, she said.

Though the Ministry of Tourism is nine months old it is obvious that it has great potential to contribute to government’s efforts to diversify economy, create jobs and raise internally generated revenue.

The ball is on the court of technocrats in the ministry to make this happen.

News Agency of Nigeria