Abuja: The Federal Government says it has generated 300 per cent above its expected revenue in the hospitality and tourism sector. Mr. Abisoye Fagade, the Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), stated that the sector recorded this growth over the past year.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Fagade made these remarks at an event organized by Style De Vie, a private sector company focused on fostering cultural and economic ties between African countries. He noted that the tourism sector has become the leading area for employment generation, second only to agriculture, and emphasized the importance of creating a supportive environment for businesses in the industry to thrive.
Fagade urged for increased investment in the tourism sector to drive further growth and development in the country. “The body language of our government is changing to tourism, the agenda is focusing more on tourism as a sustainable replacement for oil. Tourism in Nigeria is a social bitcoin, if you do not catch up on time now, you will regret that later,” he stated.
Mrs. Rebecca Tabe, the Creative Director of Style De Vie, highlighted the event’s aim to boost investment partnerships among African nations. She emphasized the importance of bringing together investors, country representatives, and business owners to create platforms and opportunities for investment across Africa. Tabe encouraged Nigerians in the diaspora to invest in the country and continent for Africa’s sustainable growth, noting that many Nigerians prefer investing abroad. “This is a platform to encourage not to take their monies to Europe. They should bring their money into Africa,” she said.
The Tunisian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohsen Antit, viewed the event as an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas and harmonize the different peculiarities between African countries, particularly in trade and economy. He advocated for increased collaboration between Tunisia and Nigeria in sectors such as agriculture, trade, and tourism to enhance cultural and tourism relations across the continent.