Nigeria Spends N750million Yearly On Dubai Tourism

Property in Dubai
Nigeria spends about N750 million annually on Dubai tourism through taxation on tickets, the director of policy analysis, research and statistics, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Paul Adalikwu, has revealed.
Adalikwu, who revealed this in Abuja on Wednesday, August 3, at the unveiling of www. rennytravels.com, an online platform which is a subsidiary of RennyWorld Travels and Tours that had provided quality services in the tourism industry for the past 8 years, added that 250, 000 Nigerians travelled to Dubai in 2015.

The online platform contains a holistic travel package that encompasses all travel logistics from flights, accommodation, transfers, corporate travels, tours, pilgrimage and visa for various international and local destinations.

He said: “In the first of July 2016, Dubai introduced $10 per ticket, so anybody travelling there will pay $10 on every ticket purchased; so If you multiply $10 ×250, 000 Nigerians, its $2.5 million and if you convert it to N300 per dollar official rate, it will give you, N750 million.”

“He said given the indices that Nigeria was paying N750 million annually to Dubai tourism aside shopping and accommodation, if the money was incorporated in the travel agency that it would be a significant contribution to the Nigerian economy.”

Adalikwu maintained that Nigeria is the largest spender in Uk travels and tour industry, with a call on stakeholders to develop Nigeria tourism industry which he described as the next frontier for economic diversification.

While disclosing that Nigeria contributes 40% to South Africa tourism, he described tourism as a flexible sector that can accommodate all class of people in the country.

He expressed optimism that the federal government through its implementing agency, Nigeria Tourism and Development Corporation (NTDC) would provide a veritable platform for Renny Travels and Tours to key into their international events as part of plans by President Muhammadu Buhari to diversify the economy away from oil.