Don calls for investment in tourism to reduce oil dependency, boost economy
By Olajide Idowu
A Professor of Sustainable Tourism Management, Bola Adeleke, says tourism can be used as a catalyst to shift the country’s dependancy on oil and boost its economy.
Adeleke of the Redeemer’s University, Ede, in Osun, made the remarks on Thursday in Ede while delivering the 19th inaugural lecture of the university.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture had as its theme “Sustainable Tourism: An Impetus for National Development”.
Adeleke said that sustainable tourism, which encompassed people, planet, and profit, could be used as a catalyst for national development and bring about economic, social, and environmental developments.
“Economically, it generates significant revenue, creates jobs, and stimulates local economies, contributing to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and reducing poverty.
“It can diversify Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy, create jobs, and stimulate local businesses.
“Socially, it would preserve our cultural heritage, foster intercultural understanding, and enhance community well-being.
“Environmentally, it can protect biodiversity and mitigate climate impacts through ecotourism initiatives in our national parks and protected areas.
“Globally, tourism contributes 10 per cent to GDP and one in ten jobs,” she said.
Adeleke referenced the World Tourism Organisation’s 2021 report, which said that in 2019, tourism generated $1.7 trillion in export earnings.
The don said that the tourism sector accounted for 3.6 per cent of the country’s 2022 GDP of $17 billion, and also created employment for about two million people.
She admonished the government to tap into and harness the great potentials in tourism to boost revenue and foreign exchange earnings.
Adeleke, however, said that the government needed to deal with the issues of insecurity and upgrade the tourist sites in the country to attract foreign tourists.
Earlier, Prof. Shadrach Akindele, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, said that tourism was one of the areas where the country had great potential.
Akindele said that tourism could boost the country’s foreign reserves and attract a lot of foreign exchange.
“With so many tourist sites in the country, Nigeria is sitting on a goldmine,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Victor Adeoti/Ayodeji Alabi
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