Tourism to generate more revenue than oil, says Lai
Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says tourism will be the next oil industry in the country in terms of revenue generation among other benefits.
The minister said this during a working visit to the Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, Folorunsho Coker, in Abuja.
He said that the industry has contributed to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 1.24 per cent and would target to increase it, asserting that the nation’s tourism industry is the fastest growing industry that has employed over one million people and has the capacity of employing more people.
Mohammed however, charged the NTDC to explore unexplored opportunities in the tourism sector to create more jobs in the society.
The minister, who noted that the sector is grossly untapped, said the corporation is sitting on a cake of unexploited potential and has the capacity to harness, attract and promote the country’s tourism.
“In the nearest future, creative industry will be the next oil of Nigeria because it will always remain fresh so it is very pivotal,” Mohammed said.
He added that NTDC is not just an apex organisation of tourism, but the centre and coordinator of tourism sector that promotes and markets Nigerian products locally and globally.
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”The beauty of the industry is that it has created a platform and employment for youths. Tourism is not just about sight- seeing, rather the entire entertainment industry to showcase the world what Nigeria is blessed with.
“The creative industry will be the next oil industry, our film, fashion and, music, others will always remain fresh and attract people for visit.
“There are many things that will attract tourists in the country because we are blessed with rich cultural heritage, films and music that have global recognition,” the minister added.
Mohammed reiterated government commitment in ensuring that solutions would be proffered to the challenges faced by the corporation.
He therefore, urged the corporation to harness opportunities in tourism sector in order to take the sector to an enviable height.
Earlier, the director general of the NTDC said that it is imperative for the corporation to have a legal framework to enable it harness tourism potentials.
According to him, the most important discourse with the minister is to seek ways to ensure that the legal framework of the NTDC is realised, adding that the ministry and the corporation would work hand in hand to ensure that the NTDC bill is resubmitted for review and presidential assent.
