Nigeria generated N86bn revenue from tourism in 2012-NTDC

Tourism is now one of the world?s largest industries and one of its fastest growing economic sectors. For many countries tourism is seen as a main instrument for economic development, as it stimulates new economic activities; especially with regards to creating  employment opportunities.

Tourism is fast becoming a big business in Nigeria, in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Nigeria earned an estimated N86 billion from the visit of some 4.7 million tourists in the country in 2012.The statement stated that the overall Gross Domestic Product from tourism returns stood at N40.5 million in that year.

It said that overnight tourist visits was more than 4.6 million; tourists on a single day visit were 160,544, while transit tourists were 276,788.

According to the statement, there had been a steady increase in the number of inbound tourists in the country in the last five years, especially from 2008.

The statement said that over 4.6 million tourists visited on personal grounds in 2012 as against over 3.7 million in 2011.

It also stated that some 1.4 million tourists came to the country on holidays, leisure and recreation in 2012 as against more than 1.1 million in the preceding year.

It also stated that more than 4.6 million tourists were accommodated in 2012 as against 3.7 million in 2011. read complete story- http://www.acrossstreets.com