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.
In 2020, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product 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. 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.
“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.
Momoh added that she wasn’t able to get an exquisite tourist experience because she didn’t go through the usual way.