Nigeria could continue to lose billions in tourism revenue to countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya if it fails to develop a coordinated tourism ecosystem around Detty December, industry experts have warned.
Speaking at the Naija7Wonders conference, Principal Managing Partner, Aeronexus Partners Ltd, Gbenga Onitilo referenced Ghana’s Year of Return, which generated approximately $3.3 billion through deliberate planning and collaboration between government and private sector players.
“That success was not accidental. It was orchestrated. Everyone was involved—government, airlines, hotels, tour operators,” he said.
In contrast, Nigeria’s Detty December remains largely uncoordinated, with weak collaboration across ministries, aviation authorities, and tourism stakeholders.
Onitilo highlighted several areas requiring urgent attention, including:
Visa processing and airport experience
Airline capacity from key diaspora routes such as Johannesburg and Toronto
Integration of events, festivals, and travel services
Development of tourism offerings beyond Lagos
He stressed that tourism is driven by experience, not transactions.
“If people don’t have a good experience, they won’t return. And if they don’t return, we lose long-term value,” he said.
The expert called for a multi-stakeholder approach to reposition Detty December as a structured, year-end tourism product capable of delivering sustained economic growth.
