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NANTA says over 17 million Nigerians left the country in 2023 for various purposes
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Association projects $12 million revenue from travel and tourism by 2026
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Eastern Travel Market 2025 to host 1,000 travel professionals in Uyo
Over 17 million Nigerians travelled out of the country in 2023, according to the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), marking a major spike in outbound movement and economic potential within the travel industry.
Vice Chairman of NANTA Eastern Zone, Mr. Hope Ehiogie, made the disclosure during a press briefing held in Port Harcourt.
He also announced the Eastern Travel Market 2025, a strategic industry event scheduled to hold from 27th to 30th August in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
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Ehiogie said the event is expected to bring together more than 1,000 travel professionals and will create visibility for airlines, hospitality businesses, hospitals and academic institutions across Nigeria’s South-South and South-East regions.
“The Nigerian travel industry has seen significant growth, with 17 million people travelling out of the country in 2023 for health, religious purposes, visitation, education, and other reasons,” Ehiogie stated.
The NANTA Vice Chairman projected that travel and tourism could inject $12 million into the national economy by 2026, a sharp increase from the $4 million recorded in 2024.
He stressed the need for an enabling environment and proper infrastructure to allow the sector flourish, warning that government inaction continues to limit growth opportunities in the sector.
“They are not creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. We need to support the industry and provide the necessary infrastructure for growth,” he said.
Ehiogie praised the strides in Nigeria’s hospitality industry, saying it had matured and was now “second to none.” He also revealed that NANTA had established four to five training schools in the region, with the first batch of students expected to graduate in two years.
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“We are helping airlines sell tickets and hotels sell their rooms,” he added.
Also speaking at the briefing, Mr. Stephen Isokariari, former Chairman of NANTA’s Board of Trustees and a top executive of Dial Travels, called for collaboration across industry stakeholders to harness tourism’s economic potential.
“With the right support and infrastructure, the Nigerian travel industry has the potential to make a significant contribution to the nation’s GDP,” he said.
