Nigerians Continue Summer Travel Abroad To Seychelles, Barbados, Maldives, Rwanda And Fiji, Despite Economic Strain, While Domestic Tourism Gains Popularity

Sunday, July 27, 2025

The summertime play is accelerated approaching and galore Nigerians will soon beryllium disconnected connected luxurious vacations successful Seychelles, Barbados, Maldives, Rwanda and Fiji. From high-end water formation resorts to metropolis business hotels, safari lodges and moreover connected nan precocious seas connected committee a luxury water liner, Nigerians are travelling contempt nan existent economical crunch successful nan country. Nigerians flood celebrated visitors spots arsenic summertime vacation play kicks disconnected this year. The existent contrast, however, is nan hard, acold financial truth that world recreation is simply a very costly luxury truthful really tin these trips beryllium funded and, specifically, who is paying, peculiarly successful these thin times?

The Economic Challenges

In nan look of Nigeria’s volatile currency, a soaring speech rate, and precocious visa costs, it mightiness look that galore Nigerians’ passion for summertime vacations overseas would person taken a important hit. However, this hasn’t been nan case. A caller investigation revealed that flights to world destinations are still packed pinch Nigerian passengers, galore of whom are going for holidays, aesculapian tourism, aliases business trips.

The costs of overseas recreation has skyrocketed, pinch an speech complaint of complete N1,500 to $1 USD, placing a dense load connected those seeking to return a picnic abroad. The value of an mean system people return summons is betwixt N1.2 cardinal and N2 million, depending connected nan destination. Standard edifice accommodations costs astir $200 per night, while activities, transport, and tours adhd to nan expenses. For nan mean Nigerian, these figures magnitude to a important financial burden, and only those pinch sizeable financial resources tin spend specified trips.

The Rising Cost of Summer Travel

Despite these challenges, Nigerians proceed to return flights abroad, driven by a operation of reasons beyond conscionable summertime holidays. Family reunions, business trips, and visits to properties overseas are immoderate of nan superior motivations for many. Some Nigerians, who whitethorn person struggled during nan erstwhile administration’s tenure, are now capable to recreation owed to a betterment successful their financial capacity, moreover arsenic others proceed to money their trips done individual means, including loans.

Travel supplier Chinda Elue from Port Harcourt notes that while nan request for world recreation declined by almost 50% during nan erstwhile 2 years, things are opening to prime up. Despite nan precocious costs, group are still walking for weddings, birthdays, babe showers, and different family events. Many Nigerians still take to travel, albeit not arsenic overmuch arsenic before, though nan inclination is mostly among nan wealthier conception of society.

The Social Pressure to Travel

Another facet driving Nigerians overseas during nan summertime is nan societal unit to support a definite lifestyle. In galore cases, individuals spell to awesome lengths to show disconnected their vacations, spending important amounts of money to support a precocious societal status. This has created a subculture of “status tourism,” wherever immoderate Nigerians recreation conscionable to flaunt their trips connected societal media, often astatine nan costs of their financial stability. Chimezie Ogunka, a unit banker, observed that galore Nigerians, peculiarly those pinch visible financial means, spell into indebtedness to money their summertime holidays.

For some, a summertime travel has go much astir showing disconnected luxurious experiences, for illustration visiting iconic destinations specified arsenic Burj Khalifa successful Dubai, New York’s Times Square, aliases nan beaches of nan Caribbean, alternatively than seeking a genuinely fulfilling recreation experience. Ogunka stated that galore of his clients use for loans to money these trips, pinch nan added load of paying for schoolhouse fees and location rent erstwhile they return. This behaviour exemplifies nan societal unit to perpetually “show” a glamorous lifestyle, which whitethorn not ever align pinch one’s financial situation.

A Shift Toward Domestic Tourism

Despite nan precocious costs of world travel, immoderate Nigerians are opening to research home tourism arsenic a viable alternative. The state is location to a assortment of beautiful tourer destinations, ranging from serene resorts to vibrant taste festivals. Industry experts, specified arsenic Bolaji Mustapha, President of nan Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP), person been encouraging Nigerians to look inward and research section attractions. Mustapha pointed retired that location are galore earthy and man-made destinations crossed nan state that connection an astonishing acquisition without nan request for costly world travel.

One of nan apical home tourism destinations successful Nigeria is Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort successful Ondo State. Known for its unsocial earthy springs, wherever basking and acold h2o travel broadside by side, it offers an acquisition of quality astatine its best. Lagos, pinch its world-class beaches specified arsenic Tarkwa Bay, Elegushi, and Oniru, remains different celebrated destination for some locals and foreigners looking to bask nan sun and sand. Cross River State’s Obudu Mountain Resort is besides a awesome attraction, known for its cool climate, breathtaking views, and highland beauty.

In addition, taste tourism successful cities specified arsenic Osogbo, Kano, and Ilorin is gaining traction. For instance, nan Durbar Festival successful Kano and nan Osogbo Festival are awesome taste events that pull some visitors and locals. These destinations, rich | successful history and tradition, connection unsocial insights into Nigerian civilization while besides providing an enriching and budget-friendly vacation experience.

Domestic Travel Over International Leisure

Nigerians tin bask memorable summertime experiences without leaving nan country. Mike Ushie, a telecom engineer, spent his summertime past twelvemonth astatine nan Smokin Hills Golf Resort successful Ilara Mokin, Ondo State. The resort’s serene atmosphere, world-class facilities, and beautiful landscapes provided a cleanable retreat without nan precocious costs of world travel. Ushie praised nan resort’s tranquility and security, making it a awesome replacement to nan agelong flights and visa hassles of world travel.

Similarly, successful nan South-East, areas for illustration Owerri and Enugu boast luxurious resorts and leisure centers wherever visitors tin unwind and bask leisure activities. The Enugu State Government is investing heavy to amended Nike Lake Resort and different attractions for illustration Awhum Waterfalls, Coal Mines, and section lakes, making nan region a rising prima successful Nigeria’s home tourism sector.

The Need for Support from Government

Elue besides emphasized nan value of authorities support for home tourism, encouraging Nigerians to patronize section destinations alternatively than spending abroad. He cited examples from East Africa, wherever Kenyan authorities incentives and discounted rates person encouraged home travel, which benefits some nan system and tourism businesses. Nigeria’s authorities should support tourism by reducing home airfare costs, improving infrastructure, and promoting section destinations much effectively.

Conclusion: A Balance Between Foreign and Domestic Travel

As aspirations for world holidays remains precocious pinch Nigeria’s moneyed elite, home tourism presents charismatic opportunities. Nigerians tin sojourn and acquisition nan divers cultural, humanities and earthy endowments of their country. Whether you are taking a short break to Ikogosi Springs, taking nan family for a vacation successful Obudu aliases conscionable request a break to bask nan beaches successful Lagos, section tourism is an affordable action that promotes section enterprise, creates jobs and boost nan section economy. It’s astir clip to prehend immoderate Nigeria has to offer, and fto each vacation count for something, not conscionable for rest, for nan maturation of nan country.