TOURISM CONTRIBUTION TO NIGERIA ECONOMY

TOURISM CONTRIBUTION TO NIGERIA ECONOMY

Tourism is an increasingly vital part of the Nigerian economy. Throughout the world, tourism bring money cities and countries. Tourism also provides jobs for the local residents, further benefiting the destination. Nigeria has realized the profits available from this sector. Thanks to its growing economy and promoting itself as a culturally rich and diverse nation, Nigeria tourism industry now brings millions of dollars into the economy each year.

As of 2010, more than 100 million people live in Nigeria, making it the most populated country in Africa and the most populated country in the whole of black race.

Tourism is becoming more and more a vital part of the Nigerian economy with the rapid expansion and growth of the hospitality industry even though most of the population is urban with the rural gradually coming up and still works in Agriculture, Nigeria service-based economy has rapidly brought about a thriving development, especially in the last 20 years when Nigeria liberalized its markets.

The services sector employs about 30 percent of Nigeria’s workforce, yet provides about half of its output. Nigeria depended on its large English – speaking, well-educated workforce to develop a burgeoning technology sector, as well. Tourism is a growing portion of Nigeria’s economy with an earning increase of more than 10 percent from 2010.

In 2011, more than 2 million tourists visited Nigeria, the various international church crusades and conferences coupled with foreign investors on business tourism make the bulk of the tourists and spent the equivalent of $3.7 million U.S Dollars and this figure is expected to rise by 10 percent increase year by year.

Tourists are attracted by Nigeria’s cultural diversity, scenery and festivals each region of Nigeria offer something for foreign visitors, from Obudu Cattle Ranch, Osun Osogbo Groove, Olumo rock, Agbokim Water Falls in Calabar and a number of beaches and coastal in cities.

Not only are foreign tourists traveling to Nigeria, after the awareness created by the NTDC, Nigeria themselves has also started taking more domestic vacations, as well. The country’s gradual economic growth has increased its middle class population. This group is contributing the most to domestic travel.

Nigeria being an agrarian nation can’t d-emphasize the importance of agriculture not only to her economy but also to general well being of the populace. The basic importance of agriculture to Nigeria include but not restricted to provision of food for all provides employment for about 70% of the population sources of family and nation income, generate savings both external and internal revenue, supplies new materials for users of products of other sector thus encouraging economy activities and finally contributes significantly to the GDP about 32%.

COMPARISON OF TOURISM AND AGRICULTURE TO THE CONTRIBUTION OF NIGERIA ECONOMY

1)      Employment agriculture; is by far one of most  important sector of Nigeria economy ,engaging about 70% of the labor  force in various agricultural activities e.g. fishing, farming, hunting etc. Tourism industry also provide employment opportunities with tourism comes hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies, four companies, service station, solvent shops, sport equipment rentals and mush more which create different levels of employment for people in a given location or community where tourist center is sited e.g. tinapa, yankari gave conservers, Olumo rock, olokola cultural resort etc

2)      They both contribute to the countries GROSS DOMESTIC PROFIT (GDP)Agriculture contributed 32% to the country (Nigeria) GDP in 2009 (Nigeria agriculture 1999) the agricultural product: can be divided into two main groups; food, crops, produced for home consumption and export products, goods expected to other countries tourism being an employment of labour contributed about 10% to the countries GDP according to the former Finance Minister, Alhaji Adamu Groma, says that there is great potential in the tourism industry which Nigeria is yet to key into.

3)      Foreign Earning/Exchange: The tourism industry makes room for foreign earning in the Nigeria economy. It does this by attaining foreigners from other countries to Nigeria e.g. The Tinapa or Obudu Cattle ranch in Cross River State attract foreigners to the state annually for site seeing and Holiday visit. Agriculture also encourage foreign exchange through international trade e.g. cocoa exportation, rubber exportation etc.

4)      Poverty Reduction:  Both tourism and agriculture tend to reduce poverty as tourism provide  different level of jobs at subsistence and commercial level in the Nigeria economy e.g. transportation, small scale farming, trading, hotel, restaurants, car rentals, marketing etc Which provide income, employment and which reduces poverty.

The point works towards bringing a lasting development in the Nigeria Economy. Therefore the need for both the tourism and Agricultural industry to be revamp is crucial to the country’s development. It then calls for investment on these industries.

THE CONTRAST BETWEEN TOURISM AND AGRICULTURE TO THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE Nigeria ECONOMY

1)      Tourism is a business of activities connected with providing accommodation services and entertainment for people who are visiting i.e. tourism sector contributes to the Nigeria through providing opportunity (Job opportunity) to the hotel management, entertainers (e.g. site seeing visiting, leisure etc). When foreigners or people in the country visit the tourist center.

While agriculture is the cultivation  of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life i.e. agriculture contribute to the Nigeria economy through engaging people mostly in the cultivation of plant, fiber and other product to sustain life.

2)      Tourism contributes to the conservation of wildlife for food. Tourism conserve wildlife e.g. some animals or species that have almost gone one extinction are being conserved in some tourist site by providing an artificial environment three species, while agriculture is involve in the exploitation of the natural resources for sustenance of life .

3)      Tourism contribute to knowledge of culture tourism enable one experience hid own culture and other people’s culture i.e. It broadens one’s experience and knowledge of both your culture and other people culture through visiting of tourist site e.g. museum, olokola cultural resort etc. while Agriculture can only broadens one’s knowledge and understanding on the type of agriculture enterprise one is engaged to.

4)      Tourism mostly is people oriented and it encourages relationship between individual of both different and the same race e.g. foreigners relationship with local people. While agriculture don’t mostly create relationship between individual. It is usually business oriented.

5)      Transaction in agriculture does not necessarily involve physical contact take place through the net e.g. email, fax, text etc. while transaction in tourism attract the physical appearance of the individual or group coming or visiting the tourist site.

REFERENCES

Douglas John McConnell 1992, the Forest Garden Farms

United Nation World Tourism Organization 2004

Nigeria Agricultural 1999

National Daily