Domestic tourism has reduced drastically over the years with Nigerians from all walks of life citing economic hardship, insecurity, and poor awareness as the reasons the rarely do domestic tourism, FELICITAS OFFORJAMAH reports.
Nigeria has diverse tourism resources throughout its regions and provinces. Having large pristine natural areas, including rivers and beaches, tropical forests, waterfalls, mountains, and diverse fauna, it is a unique country with stunning natural beauty, diverse ethnicities, treasured traditions, and a rich past.
Domestic tourism, which involves individuals travelling within their country for recreational purposes or leisure, tourism in Nigeria have experienced low turnout of citizens in various tourist sites country-wide.
According to a report by Statista Research Department, domestic travel represents the majority of spending in Nigeria’s travel and tourism industry. Domestic spending in 2022 was around $10 billion. Overall, spending has dropped compared to past years, particularly from 2019.
In 2020, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was composed of 0.1 per cent of expenditures related to inbound tourism. Comparing this to the previous year, when it was 0.3 percent, there was a modest decline.
Nigeria’s tourist industry alone brought in about $265 million in 2021. This amounts to roughly 23 per cent of all foreign tourism receipts in Western Africa and 0.056 per cent of the country’s GDP.
Nigeria was ranked 129th out of 136 African nations in the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourist Competitiveness Index, further evidence of the declining condition of unvisited attractions in the tourist industry.
Nigeria’s score indicates how undeveloped and uncompetitive the country’s tourist industry is when compared to other African countries like South Africa (ranked 53rd) and Kenya (ranked 80th).
An analysis of the sector’s GDP contribution over the previous 10 years reveals that 2008 was the year with the most contribution. Travel and tourism directly accounted for 2.4 per cent of the GDP at the time. The percentage has since varied between 1.5 per cent and 1.8 per cent. This decline is in line with the fears surrounding insecurity in Nigeria.
Low income and inadequate transportation, lodging, and logistics infrastructure are other barriers also facing the tourism industry. About 112 million Nigerians (62 per cent of the population) are considered to be living in poverty. Because the typical Nigerian views domestic travel as a luxury, it presents a significant barrier to the country’s domestic tourism industry.
Despite its therapeutic and economic benefits, Nigerians have myriad of reasons for their low patronage of domestic tourism that is in high demand globally.
Describing himself as a former tourist enthusiast, Kelechi Chukwujekwu, acknowledged the benefits of tourism and the impact it has on health, especially mentally and the role in widening horizons. However, the Nigerian economy “doesn’t allow you to budget for tourism.” Chukwujekwu explained that tourism requires you parting with money, and some people do not have the luxury to do that.
“Up until 2019 I think, I visited tourist sites, explored and went on vacations, especially during the holidays with my kids. It was something to look forward to. Now, if I calculate all the expenses I will use for my five kids, including my wife and I to visit a place, I’m always tempted to cut it off and I yield to that temptation. The last tourist site I went to was the Ogbunike cave in Anambra State. I spent not less than N250,000,” Chukwujekwu said.
An accountant, Olatayo Momoh, said that she stopped visiting tourist sites when she was fooled by one of the locals when visiting Olumo Rock in Ogun State.
“Very funny experience that made me cringe whenever I remember. The taxi man offered to be a guide when we got to Abeokuta. He took us to the Olumo Rock and started showing us around.
“He said we should pass the back gate and that we would pay huge sums if we passed through the front the gate and that we would be restricted and other things. So, he being with us as a local was the best. This man acted as a guide and afterwards asked for N25,000 for his service.”
Momoh added that she wasn’t able to get an exquisite tourist experience because she didn’t go through the usual way.
“It was hectic, after arguing and all, I had to part with money that I didn’t plan to spend. I usually believed that if you want to know a place, you should interact with the people who lived there. But being duped by them isn’t what I was expecting? I had to put visiting tourist attractions on hold.”
For Jane Ekpenyong, a fashion designer and hair stylist, she doesn’t believe tourism offers any benefit other than “snatching one’s hard earned money”.
“I feel tourism is not necessary. For me, it’s just a way to pass time and time is not even a luxury nowadays. We are always on the go, doing this or doing that and if you say let me rest small, you might not see what you will eat for one month. I’m not saying it’s not good. I’m just saying it’s not a necessity. ”
Business man and father of 12, Suleiman Ibrahim, said he loves visiting tourist sites but he is scared of being attacked by kidnappers or armed men.
“I love travelling and adventure. I love discovering new places but looking at the increasing rate of insecurity nowadays, it’s scary to go. Early this year, my friend who was on his way to visit Zuma Rock got kidnapped and I thank God he was released after we paid some money but it’s not without some casualties. So, on my own part, will I want to go? I would rather stay safe in my house,” Ibrahim said. A Civil Servant, Joseph Ade- Brown asserted that Nigeria is not a place where you think of tourism.
“Is it not obvious that times are hard? N5,000 cannot even cook soup for a family, and you want that family to go to one tourist centre and be snapping picture? It’s not feasible now and it’s only when people have plenty money to spend that they will be going out for pleasure and all that. I usually visit most times in my early years but now I’m thinking of the food I will put on the table for my family to survive.”