Tourism stakeholders unite to shape future of Nigerian tourism

By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka

Abuja

The National Hospitality and Tourism Stakeholders Forum, convened by the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), has concluded with a call for collaborative efforts to drive sustainable growth in the sector.

The forum brought together stakeholders from across Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism value chain, including government representatives, operators, investors, and development partners.

The meeting however aimed to strengthen collaboration, governance, standardization, and alignment with the National Economic diversification agenda.

NTDA Director General Ola Awakan emphasized the need for shared commitment to reposition tourism as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economic diversification.

The forum resolved to adopt a unified national standardization framework, strengthen institutional collaboration, and address overlapping functions of agencies, even as it urged National Assembly to revisit the NTDA Act and NIHOTOUR to address implementation challenges and ensure effective tourism development.

Calling for a national reorientation on security and formalization of the sector, with tourism on the concurrent list, the forum emphasized the need for synergy among stakeholders to drive standardization and growth in the tourism and hospitality industry.

While commending the NTDA leadership for convening the meeting and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s tourism sector, the forum therefore reaffirmed stakeholders’ resolve to position Nigeria as a competitive tourism destination, leveraging the sector’s potential for economic diversification and job creation.

The communique was issued, outlining key resolutions and recommendations for implementation, with signatories from NTDA and other stakeholders.

Earlier in his welcome address,the Director-General of the NTDA, Ola Awakan, has emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation in transforming Nigeria’s tourism sector. Speaking at the 2026 National Hospitality and Tourism Stakeholders Forum, Awakan highlighted the country’s immense tourism potential, citing its diverse ecological landscapes, vibrant cultural expressions, and globally recognized creative industry ¹.

Awakan noted that the sector faces challenges such as fragmented institutional coordination, infrastructural deficits, and limited global visibility, but expressed optimism about the renewed policy direction and growing private sector interest. The NTDA has been repositioned as a regulatory, developmental, and marketing agency, focusing on establishing a robust regulatory environment, driving tourism investment, and enhancing global promotion of Nigeria’s tourism assets.

Key initiatives include tourism digitalization, development of MICE tourism, and standardization and accreditation of Hospitality and Tourism Enterprises. The NTDA is also launching the Naija Flavour Marketplace, a platform connecting buyers, sellers, and service providers across the tourism value chain.