Travel and tour experts have identified Nigeria as the fastest growing air travel market in Africa recording 1.5 million visitors last year. According to the studies carried out on the industry,Nigeria’s hospitality industry has overtaken that of South Africa, Mauritius and China. They said, while growth in the hospitality and travel industry in Nigeria is spectacular, the market in the other countries have been saturated.
Mr. Ikechi Uko, a travel expert, attributed the growth in Nigeria to the emerging middle class, in spite of the seemingly economic stagnation.
“The middle class is growing at incredible rate and that explains why the economy cabin of many airlines operating into Nigeria record load factor. Those who will tell you that the economy is not growing are those who board business class. They don’t know what is happening at the economy class.”Uko said.
He stated that many new international hotels are extending their operations to Nigeria, especially Lagos and the rates have not come down because of high patronage.
“Lagos is the fourth most visited city in Africa and Nigeria is an environment that rewards efforts and when people travel to new places they see new things and they do business. Nigeria is rated the biggest destination in West Africa,” he said.
