The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) on Tuesday said the tourism industry generated about 30 per cent of the nation’s income.

Mrs Sally Mbanefo, the Director-General of the NTDC, made the assertion in an interview in Lagos.

She said that between November 2013 and November 2014, the sector had attracted many tourists into the country, noting that the industry could raise the nation’s revenue if well utilised.

The director-general said the influx of tourists had helped in increasing the nation`s foreign exchange earnings.

“The tourists come to witness different cultural festivals organised in some parts of the country.

“Some come for sight-seeing, leisure and to sign agreement with NTDC for investment opportunities in the country,’’ Mbanefo said.

The director-general said the tourism industry was blessed with enormous potential which could be used to boost national development.

She said the sector was blessed with: museums and monuments, hotels, travel agencies, tour operators, airlines, parks and gardens, beaches, wildlife parks and artifacts.

Mbanefo said that NTDC had signed different Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with several organisations, corporate bodies and entities to support the growth of the industry.

She said the corporation had also set up a revenue generation committee and transformation steering committee to advice on revenue and transformation drive.

“The committee was created to source for a means of generating revenue for the industry.

“The revenue committee will work with a revenue and management consultant to generate funds into government’s purse.

“The corporation doesn’t want to depend on the Federal Government alone. Therefore, there is need to create an avenue to raise funds for the development of the industry.

“The government cannot do it alone. It requires the assistance of the private, public sectors as well as the stakeholders to develop the industry,’’ Mbanefo said.