Nigeria has a vibrant, growing tourism sector. Besides outbound tourism, inbound tourism has increased immensely. With the financial squeeze on individuals, Nigerians are now more interested in discovering the amazing tourism potential in their own backyard.
Tourism is a powerful engine for socioeconomic development. It has become an important sector in revenue generation for the nation’s GDP and foreign exchange reserves.
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To meet global tourism standards, we need to step up in so many areas.
So what does 2020 hold for Nigerian tourism?
1. Infrastructural Partnerships
In 2019, Nigeria rebranded with the slogan ‘Nigeria: Good People, Great Nation’ to draw foreigners into the country. But there is no better advertisement for our tourism potentials than testimonies of people who have experienced Nigeria for themselves.
This year, some international companies set up public-private partnerships to invest in this growing sector. In 2020, we shall see more of such partnerships with both local and foreign investors. For example, Jumia Travel is entering into a partnership with Travelstart, a leading travel platform in Africa.
From resorts bursting forth around developing tourist destinations to services like Airbnb becoming more popular in Nigeria through brands like Redmenn and Barnes, the opportunities are numerous. So if you are looking for a good place to invest, consider a sector in the Nigerian tourism industry.
2. Increase in Adventure Tourism
There will bean increase in adventure tourism because of the number of Nigerians who schooled abroad, had such exposure and returning to recreate such experiences on the home turf. Companies rendering adventure tourism services like Naidrenalin, Fruity Tours, etc will increase causing a spike in adventure tourism options. In 2019, a rising number of youths signed up for more hiking tours, backpacking, kayaking, obstacle course and paint balling activities. In 2020, we will see youths engaging in more of those activities and much more. So get ready for more Zip lining, scuba diving, para-gliding, waterfall chasing, cave exploration, snorkelling and forest bathing tours.
3. More Dependency on Technology
There has been an explosion in the data consumption of Nigerians. As more people release apps in droves, so also more cashless transactions occur. People now trust online platforms for their travel bookings/itineraries, connection/communications with loved ones, transporation directions, service request/delivery, remote working while on vacation, etc. Airlines, tour operators and hotels that are well-adjusted to millennials will give more personalised services with the use of AI. While tourists will rely more on the use of mobile phones and debit card for monetary transactions as opposed to walking around with wads of cash. As we evolve with the tech age each year, so will our dependence on technology affect how tourism will run in 2020.
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4. More Government Involvement
In October 2019[1], Lai Mohammed, our minister of Information, Culture and Art, revealed that in 2020, there would be more tourism focused policies. One of which would be the National Policy on tourism to help regulate the tourism sector and create a legal framework for the sector. Before now, anyone could set up a tourism business fairly easy. But now deliberate regulatory steps will be taken to protect tourists from fraudsters and ensure quality of service delivery. This would help Nigeria be better placed on the global tourism map. Also, turning the National Festival of Arts and Culture into an annual event is on the table. We hope a conclusion to the plans for policing of tourist destinations for increased security is also part of the agenda for the government in 2020.
Is there any impact you believe we will see in Nigeria’s Tourism industry in 2020 that was not listed above? Please tell us in the comments.
Source:
[1] Vanguard NG
Featured image source: All in Nigeria
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