Travel/Tourism
Understanding Economics of Tourism in Nigeria
By Olukayode Kolawole
In most gatherings of experts in the travel & hospitality industry, tourism as a tool in diversifying the Nigerian economy has received the most attention and provoked lots of intellectual comments. This is not surprising at all considering the huge potential that this particular sector possesses.
In most developed and developing countries, tourism has enriched the economies of these countries thus becoming one of the major sources of income and a pillar of commerce.
The decision to grow tourism into a consistent and sustainable means of income by these countries and to make it appealing to inbound and outbound tourists was not arbitrary, but rather deliberate and planned. Without a doubt, other countries like Nigeria are amazed to see the attendant economic implications this sector has birth.
We can achieve this feat or even better than these countries. We have an advantage: our population. In fact, if we can sell tourism to just Nigerians to a point where they can see the value proposition, it might become optional to sell to foreign tourists.
Majority of the countries benefiting from tourism revenue such as Kenya, South Africa, Seychelles etc. do not have the kind of population density that Nigeria has.
In fact, the total inhabitants of some of the countries only equal the total population of Lagos dwellers – which is over 20 million. So, we have the numbers, and the percentage of our population that has the purchasing power for tourism is above 30%, out of over 180 million Nigerians.
Nonetheless, influencing the government at the central to earmark some budget for the growth of this sector in the yearly fiscal budget might seem to be a herculean task. The reason is simple: we’re an oil-dependent economy. But the reality is hitting us hard in the face. The last few months have helped us as a country to reevaluate our sheer reliance on crude oil. Matter-of-factly, the government must have learnt a great lesson from the recession: dependency on one major source of income is bad for a growing economy like ours with a population that grows on an average of 2.3% yearly. We are yet to develop another sector to have little parity in terms of revenue being generated compared with the oil & gas sector. Exactly why we felt the pangs of the recession when it came through.
It’s very heart-warming to see that the government of the day is now tilting its focus towards expanding and developing other sectors that can ultimately support our mainstay.
The recent comments of the Minister of Information, Culture & Tourism, Lai Mohammed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) that is being led by Nkereuwem Onung, reassured all in attendance that tourism has now become a focal point for the government.
According to the minister, policies at all levels have now been put in place to engender tourism growth. For instance, the committee on the Presidential Council on Tourism has been resuscitated.
This is to engender the rapid development of the sector through policy directions. The committee will see to the implementation of the tourism roadmap and the festival calendar.
Also, policies on issuance of visas have been reviewed. Now, it will only take 48 hours to issue visas to foreign tourists who are interested in exploring our tourism sites.
In addition, several partnership deals are being sought and relevant agencies involved in brokering the partnerships have since swung into action. Suffice to say, in the next couple of months, the narrative will no doubt be positive.
Something very interesting that the minister hinted on is the tripartite partnership involving the Ministry, the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and global news leader, CNN.
The objective of the partnership is to leverage on Nollywood to promote tourism in Nigeria. He described the move as a very strong and effective partnership – to use comparative advantage in film production through Nollywood – to promote tourism in the country.
Although this is the first-of-its-kind partnership, the minister believes that this will push tourism from the back-burner to the mainstream of our economy.
Promoting tourism through Nollywood is by far a great idea, considering it is one of our biggest exports to Africa and the world. So, there is no doubt that if well implemented and monitored, the impact will be great.
To make tourism profitable in Nigeria, there is a need for collaboration between the private sector and the government. The minister couldn’t have emphasized this more. In fact, government should only be involved at the initial stage of any tourism programme. For sustenance and continuity, it should be private sector led.
The former governor of Cross Rivers state, Dr. Liyel Imoke who was the guest speaker at the AGM used his state’s tourism success story as a case study to illustrate how to make tourism work within the Nigerian economic space. His hands-on experience added weight to his presentation.
He cited the success of the Calabar International Festival which was created by his predecessor Donald Duke to buttress the claim that tourism has a higher chance of surviving and becoming the country’s mainstay. “With the right policy, vision, infrastructure, and attitude, tourism will become the country’s major revenue earner,” he said.
Two of the several challenges forestalling the growth of the sector are: duplicity of festivals & misrepresentation of Nigeria by Nigerians. Since the successful launch and continuity of the Calabar International Festival, we have witnessed the launch of similar carnival/festival in some states.
For instance, there’s Abuja Carnival, Port Harcourt Carnival (Carniriv), Akwa Ibom Festival, and many more. While it is laudable to have these many festivals or carnivals, it’s important to verify the success rates of these festivals.
It appears that Calabar Festival is still the only successful and consistent festival. It is indeed imperative for these festivals to be harmonized to stimulate patronage and reduce confusion associated with simultaneous holding of festivals in the country.
Lastly, fellow Nigerians, we too have a lot to do in consolidating the efforts of the various government parastatals in pushing the frontier of our tourism industry forward.
Our major role will include representing and speaking well of Nigeria. This appears to be our greatest problem. We should stop running down our country especially those in diaspora. If we continue, foreigners – as much as we do not want to rely on their patronage – will be dissuaded from coming to visit our tourism sites. it’s crucial we start speaking well of our country.
Olukayode Kolawole is the Head of PR & Marketing at Jumia Travel
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has unveiled 30 airport electric shuttle which will be used to complement airside and landside logistics.
The shuttle, which comprises 10 vehicles and 20 saloon cars, will cost N10,000 per passenger from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to the City Centre.
Speaking at the event, the governing board chairman of FAAN, Mr Abdullahi Ganduje, said: “Electric vehicles offer clear operational and environmental benefits. They are cleaner, quieter and more energy-efficient, significantly reducing carbon emissions and helping FAAN minimise its ecological footprint. Their use will contribute to healthier airport environments and a more comfortable work and travel experience.
“From a logistics standpoint, electric vehicles also enhance monitoring, coordination and compliance. Their predictable performance and lower maintenance demands improve operational planning, accountability and service reliability. Ultimately, this translates into more efficient, transparent and passenger-friendly services.
“This initiative directly supports global sustainability targets, including International Civil Aviation Organisation’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. By embracing electric mobility, FAAN is positioning Nigerian airports to remain competitive, responsible and future-ready.”
Mr Ganduje pledged the commitment of the board to ensure that the initiative is utilised, maintained, and expanded to other airports in the country.
On her part, the managing director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku noted that the agency has secured approval to deploy 100 electric vehicles to operate as airport shuttles at Lagos and Abuja airports.
“We have secured approval to deploy 100 Electric Vehicles (EVs) to operate as airport shuttles at both Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. It is a monumental step towards greening our operations and reducing our carbon footprint.”
“We proudly begin this journey with the first phase: the launch of these 10 state-of-the-art electric shuttle buses. They represent more than just transport; they symbolise cleaner air, quieter terminals, and a to pioneering sustainable infrastructure in Nigerian aviation”.
She expressed optimism that the initiative would be replicated across all airports in the country.
The head of Fleet Operations of Possible EVS, Mrs Abimbola Gyer while stating that the transport fare would be subsidised for passengers, added that operations would commence from 7am to 7pm daily.
“We partner with NEV Electric, the manufacturer of the electric buses. We would be moving passengers from the airport to the city centre at the rate of N10,000 and as demand continues, we will expand our hub. The operations will start from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m daily,” she noted.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The travel and tourism service powered by Interswitch, Quickteller Travel, has been issued a certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
With IATA certification, Quickteller Travel is now fully equipped to connect African travellers to global destinations, support airlines and partners with reliable distribution and settlement, and set a new standard for trusted, digitally enabled travel across the continent.
The IATA accreditation reinforces Quickteller Travel’s operational credibility, compliance standards, and ability to deliver secure, efficient, and globally recognised travel services.
It also strengthens the platform’s positioning as a reliable partner for airline bookings, corporate travel management, and end-to-end travel solutions across Africa and beyond.
The certification is a milestone that places the brand among a global network of trusted and accredited travel service providers.
This achievement comes at a time when Africa’s travel and tourism sector is experiencing renewed growth, driven by increased business travel, regional connectivity, and digital adoption.
With IATA certification, Quickteller Travel is poised to offer individuals, SMEs, corporate organisations, airlines, and other travel stakeholders a seamless digital experience, supported by Interswitch’s trusted payment infrastructure.
Integrated into the broader Quickteller and Interswitch ecosystem, Quickteller Travel combines global accreditation with local insight, offering African travellers and businesses a secure, seamless, and digitally empowered experience.
The Vice President for Transport Ecosystem at Interswitch, Ms Nnenna Ajanwachuku, said, “The IATA certification is a strong validation of Quickteller Travel’s operational standards, governance, and commitment to excellence. It enhances trust for travellers, corporate partners, and global airline stakeholders who rely on accredited platforms for secure and transparent travel transactions.
“For Interswitch, this milestone reinforces our mission to build technology-led solutions that unlock access, simplify commerce, and connect Africa to the global economy.”
Ms Ajanwachuku added that the approval would enable Quickteller Travel to deepen partnerships with airlines and travel service providers while offering customers greater confidence, choice, and value.
“Quickteller Travel is not just a booking platform; it is part of an ecosystem designed to make travel more accessible, reliable, and digitally enabled for Africans. Powered by Interswitch’s heritage of trust and innovation, we are building a platform that meets global standards while responding to local travel needs,” she said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Two key players in the Nigerian aviation industry, Emirates and Air Peace, have activated a bilateral interline agreement aimed to expand air connectivity between Africa, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and London.
The two airline operators are building on their existing partnership to offer their passengers frictionless, single-ticket travel and with through-checked baggage, on select routes, resulting in greater travel comfort and convenience for customers.
Beyond the 13 cities in Nigeria already available for Emirates passengers on Air Peace’s network, the enhanced interline agreement now enables travellers to connect with Banjul in Gambia and Dakar in Senegal, both via Abidjan; and with Freetown in Sierra Leone and Monrovia in Liberia, both via Accra. The additional gateways allow more passengers in Africa to access Emirates world-class product and services, and vast global network.
The agreement allows Air Peace to connect its extensive West and Central African route system into Emirates’ hub in Dubai, and on key destinations including London Heathrow, London Gatwick and London Stansted, Abidjan, Accra and, of course, Lagos.
With huge demand for travel between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, providing Air Peace passengers with increased choice, flexibility, and global reach.
Emirates operates a Boeing 777-300ER on its Dubai-Lagos route, providing travellers with one of the best experiences in the sky.
Passengers can dine on regionally inspired multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages, while tuning in to over 6,500 channels of global entertainment – including Nollywood classics – on ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system.
As one of only two airlines operating a First Class cabin into Nigeria, Emirates offers an unrivalled travel experience defined by comfort, privacy and luxurious touches.
With a fleet of over 50 aircraft including Boeing 777s, Boeing 737s, Embraers, Air Peace operates an expanding network of domestic, regional, and international services, connecting major cities across Africa and beyond.
The airline remains committed to strengthening intra-African connectivity, supporting trade and tourism, and contributing meaningfully to economic development across the continent.
“Enhancing our interline partnership with Air Peace allows us to expand our footprint across more of Africa, creating new opportunities for people to fly better with Emirates, while helping international tourists explore more of the region, via Lagos.
“We remain committed to working with strategic partners such as Air Peace to further strengthen Nigeria’s aviation, tourism and trade sectors,” the Chief Commercial Officer for Emirates, Mr Adnan Kazim, said.
His counterpart at Air Peace, Nowel Ngala, while commenting, said, “This interline agreement with Emirates represents a major step in Air Peace’s strategic vision to connect Africa more efficiently to global markets.
“By combining our strong regional presence with Emirates’ extensive international network, we are delivering seamless connectivity, improved travel experience, and greater access to key global destinations for African travellers. This partnership further reinforces Air Peace’s role as a critical bridge between Africa and the global aviation ecosystem.”
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