Destination Development and
Institutionalization Strategies
In the OIC Member Countries
117
National parks are governed by the National Park Service Act which falls under themandate of the National
parks service who are responsible for the conservation of wildlife and natural park communities within
Nigeria. 356 National Museums in Nigeria fall under the National Commission for Museums and Monuments
act, who are responsible for establishing and preserving Nigerian antiquities, cultural heritage and
history.357
5. Funding Sources for DMOs
All government owned DMOs rely heavily on government funding as a source of investments in their
organization.358
In 2017, the Nigerian federal government allocated N133.3 Million (US$1.34 Million) to the National
Institute for Culture and Orientation to develop the cultural tourism sectors in the nation 359, a portion of
which has been allocation to the Cross River Tourism Bureau in the form of government grants.
The bureau also receives sponsorship revenue from prospective investors interested in developing the
tourism sector in the state and in its role as a regulator, the bureau has also issued a 5% levy to tourism
operators in Cross Rivers State on consumer spending incurred by tourists. These monies are then used in
maintenance and development costs of hotels, food and beverage providers and to invite new performing
artists to the annual Calabar festival.
However, the bureau has indicated a challenge in increasing the funds it receives from the government,
and has applied to the UN for specific funding relate to community development activities. The bureau is
also hesitant to generate direct revenues, concerned that it may inadvertently compete with, and slow the
development of, the private tourism sector.
6. Lessons Learned
The tourism sector in Nigeria is still a work in progress. Although the country has a number of tourist
attractions which can attract tourists from all over the world, a number of these resorts and parks remain
in a poor state due to a lack of funding from the government.
In reviewing the Nigerian tourism sector, the following lessons can be learnt about the current state of the
sector;
 There is a need for more government support in developing the Nigerian tourism sector. It is not
enough to increase the funding to Ministries of Information and Culture within the country, but to
include boosting tourism as part of the National agenda in its strategic plans for the future to boost
both investment and entrepreneurship in the region.
 The Ministry of Information and Culture will need to be more proactive in creating a holistic
tourism ecosystem, not only organizing sensitization schemes for hotel and resort operators, but
also by engaging with the community at both state and federal roadshows. International tourism
roadshows should also be an important step to be taken if the Nigerian tourism sector aims to
become a hub for the Sub- Saharan Africa.
 Both public and privately funded DMOs need to allocate more resources towards maintenance of
parks and resorts before the start of the “tourist season”. More attention should be made towards
356 Interview with Yankari Game Reserve, October 2017
357 Interview with National Commission for Museums and Monuments, October 2017
358 Interview with Yankari Game Reserve, October 2017
359 Ministry of Budget and National Planning (2017). Budget Office. Retrieved from