By Joy Onuorah

Tourism in Nigeria is more than breathtaking views and warm hospitality. It’s not just Detty December clips on Instagram and it’s definitely not limited to beaches in Lagos.

If you strip away the noise, here are five honest things you should understand about tourism in Nigeria today, especially if you’re planning to travel, invest, create content, or simply explore better.

1. Nigerian tourism works best when you follow culture, not just trends

5 Things Most People Still Don’t Get About Nigerian Tourism

The smartest way to experience Nigeria is to follow its cultural calendar, not just travel influencers.

Festivals, traditional ceremonies, book fairs, carnivals, and food events are where Nigeria truly opens up.

This is why events like the Ake Arts and Book Festival in Abeokuta or NAFEST in Enugu draw both locals and foreigners who want depth, not just photos.

Culture-led travel is also more sustainable. It supports writers, artists, craftsmen, local food vendors, guides, and small hotels.

You can see verified cultural tourism listings and heritage sites through platforms like https://tournigeria.gov.ng/ and festival calendars curated by cultural institutions like https://akebooksandartsfestival.com

This is tourism that lasts longer than a weekend.

2. Food is quietly becoming one of Nigeria’s strongest tourist attraction

5 Things Most People Still Don’t Get About Nigerian Tourism

People don’t just visit Nigeria to see places anymore. They come to eat.

Street food in Lagos, local soups in Calabar, northern delicacies in Kano and weekend food festivals in Abuja.

This is not accidental. Food tourism is one of the fastest-growing travel segments globally, and Nigeria fits perfectly into it.

Events like EatDrink Festival Lagos and community food pop-ups have shown that tourists will travel just to experience Nigerian flavours done properly.

If you want a realistic view of Nigeria’s food identity and how it ranks globally, platforms like https://www.tasteatlas.com/nigeria are a good place to start.

Food is relatable because it crosses language barriers, and in Nigeria, it always tells a story.

3. Most tourist spending stays in cities, and that’s a problem

UNESCO Heritage Sites, Other Iconic Destinations in Nigeria

Here’s the truth many reports avoid.

Lagos and Abuja take the bulk of tourism revenue. Other states struggle for visibility, even when they have stronger culture or better natural attractions.

Places like Obudu, Ibeno Beach, Idanre Hills, Ogbunike Caves, and Kano Dye Pits have global appeal but limited infrastructure and promotion.

You can find verified destination listings through heritage documentation via https://whc.unesco.org.

Tourism will only grow properly when travel spreads beyond two cities and when states invest in access, safety, storytelling, and maintenance.

4. Safety matters, but information matters even more

Many people don’t avoid Nigeria because it’s unsafe. They avoid it because they don’t know where to go, when to go, or how to move smartly.

Clear travel information changes everything.

Domestic flights have improved, ride-hailing apps work in major cities and hotel standards are better than they were five years ago.

But first-time visitors need guidance, not silence.

Practical travel advisories from https://travel.state.gov, help visitors make informed decisions.

Travel culture grows faster when information is honest and accessible, not when we pretend challenges don’t exist.

5. Tourism and the creative economy are now deeply linked

Music concerts, fashion weeks, art fairs, film festivals, and nightlife events are no longer “extra”. They are tourism drivers.

When someone flies in for Rhythm Unplugged, The Experience, AFDW, or a major art exhibition, they book hotels, eat out, shop, and move money across sectors.

This connection is why reports from organisations like https://www.britishcouncil.org/creative-economy and https://www.ifc.org now highlight Nigeria’s creative industries as economic engines tied to tourism.

Tourism today is not just about sightseeing. It’s about experiences. And of course, Nigeria has plenty of those when they are properly packaged.

So, what does all this mean?

Nigerian tourism is real. It’s growing. But it works best when it is culture-led, food-driven, honestly documented, and locally supported.

If you want shallow content, Nigeria will disappoint you.
If you want stories, people, sound, colour, and memory, Nigeria delivers every time. And that’s the kind of tourism worth building.

5 Things Most People Still Don’t Get About Nigerian Tourism