Like every organisation we are on the look out for new talent, and since great talent can spring up in the most unlikely places...it's a good idea to always keep an open mind.  Here is a piece sent in by one of our readers.  What do you think?  Were you entertained? Engaged? Did you find it useful?  Whatever your thoughts, let us know.  Should she write for Naija Times...is this the kind of content you would like to see in your magazine?

Tourism: A Viable Income Generating Resource for Nigeria
by Olujoke Areola

Leisure based tourism is a reliable income generating resource and capital contributing avenue that should not be under-estimated.

Tourism is “the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside of their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year, for leisure, business and other purposes”.

Nigeria is a West African country, whose national census on its last count indicated a population of more than a hundred million people. This number means that it is one of the most populated states in the world which automatically brings on the concern of how it will fend for such a massive number of people, that is, whether the capital that it generates yearly would provide it, with the ‘ability to function according to purpose’.

The good news is, like this borrowed popular saying stipulates, ‘God does not give you a problem that you can’t solve’ and by that stroke of grace, Nigeria’s has been blessed with crude oil which is known as black gold because it is one of the most desired and revered natural resource that most countries pray, hope and even fight for, for the purpose of sustaining themselves.

Crude oil ownership notwithstanding, it has been found that Nigeria, based on prescribed markers put forward by the World Bank is being referred to and listed as fitting into the category of one of the least developed countries in the world.

The good news here is that, tourism as a product has been found to be a major revenue generating avenue. The viability of tourism is based on the fact that as a product, it is unique. This is because nations can generally tailor their “culture, beliefs, national past-times and monuments as central tourist attractions around which, basic recreational, relaxation and necessary survival amenities required during a holiday or business travel is built. This therefore means that the market will not be bored or oversaturated with the elements of tourism because all countries have different things on offer, which then guarantees the capital generating power of tourism.

Finally, the viability of tourism as a worthy income generating resource was thoroughly buttressed by the statements in the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) report that lists the total revenue generated by the United States of America based on its receipts from tourism in year 2007 alone was $96.7billion. The report also pointed out that America didn’t even have highest international tourist arrivals for said year.

Nigeria having such diverse tribes, cultures, traditions and monuments would definitely be able to benefit from harnessing and packaging, tourism as a product. It is therefore not an overstatement to say that the earning capacity of tourism as a product is not only enormous and should not be taken for granted but should in fact be promoted in a country such as Nigeria whose  capital deriving ability can use the financial boost that tourism proceeds will provide for such a densely populated area.