Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke has said that the Federal Government was set to reawaken Nigeria’s tourism potential to boost investment opportunities.

The minister said this at the maiden edition of Nigeria Tourism Investors Forum and Exhibition (NTIFE) in Abuja.

Duke said that the exhibition was to strengthen the relationship between tourism investors and their service providers.

He said that it would also create awareness on the need to develop and promote the local tourism destinations in the country.

“Nigeria has a population of almost 170 million people, a land mass of about 923,768.64sq km and a land richly endowed with ecological resources.

“Nigeria has the greatest tourism potential in Africa and investing into the tourism sector will generate foreign exchange through financial returns on investment,” he said.

The minister stressed the need for a synergy between the states, local governments, local communities and stakeholders to build the sector.

According to him, the Federal Government is providing an enabling environment for the development of tourism sector and give unique incentives for tourism investors in the country.

“The main thrust of government policy on tourism is to generate foreign exchange, encourage even development, promote tourism based rural enterprise and accelerate rural urban integration and cultural exchange.

“Tourism development should therefore not be left in the hand of the Federal Government alone but there should be a synergy between all sections of the government and stakeholders,” Duke said.