•Erin Ijesha waterfall in South West Nigeria
The escalating crisis in the Middle East is sending shockwaves across the global travel and tourism industry. Given the region’s traditional significance to the Nigerian travel and tourism market, stakeholders said the current disruption is a wake-up call for all, reports The Guardian.
The ongoing war involving Israel-U.S. and Iran is sending shockwaves across the global travel and tourism industry.
From disruption of air travel and rising travel costs to declining traveller confidence, experts said the ripple effects are being felt far beyond the Middle East.
Already, airlines operating across the Middle East, such as Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and others from Europe and America, are staggering flight operations on many routes. In contrast, others carefully monitor developments in the region to avoid airspace conflicts.
Such adjustments and uncertainties increase flight times, operational costs and scheduling disruptions, affecting thousands of passengers globally, with many tourists trapped in the conflict.
However, despite the uncertainty and the growing threat to peace, some tourism stakeholders believe the crisis could also open new vistas and strategic opportunities for countries willing to strengthen their domestic tourism markets and reposition their cultural assets as viable travel products.
For Nigeria, industry professionals argued that the moment presents both a warning and an opportunity – a warning about the fragility of global tourism flows and an opportunity to build a more resilient local tourism economy, which would further raise the sector’s gross domestic product (GDP) from its present less than three per cent contribution to a more substantial figure.
They said that Nigeria, with its population of more than 200 million people, represents a potentially internal travel market capable of sustaining hospitality, transportation, entertainment and creative industries.
Tourism practitioners said the unfolding conflict illustrates a recurring global pattern: when geopolitical instability strikes major travel regions, tourism flows rarely disappear completely; they shift to alternative destinations perceived as safer or more stable.
However, they cautioned that Nigeria must urgently address structural challenges if it hopes to benefit from such global realignments.
The President of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), Adetunji Fadina in an interview with The Guardian, believed the war was already creating “significant turbulence” within the global tourism ecosystem.
According to him, tourism has historically been one of the first industries to respond to geopolitical instability, including the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
He posited that any war in a strategic region like the Middle East would have three immediate effects: disruption of global aviation routes, increased travel costs, and declining traveller confidence.
Fadina expressed that the Middle East alone could lose between 23 and 38 million international visitors within the year as a result of the ongoing war, while its $367 billion yearly tourism revenue would be heavily impacted.
He said: “First, global aviation is disrupted. Many flights have been cancelled or rerouted as airlines avoid airspace conflicts, affecting thousands of travellers and altering major international routes.
“Second, the cost of travel rises sharply. Oil prices have surged above $100 per barrel amid fears of supply disruptions, which directly raise aviation fuel costs and, ultimately, airline ticket prices.
“Third, traveller confidence declines. Governments issue travel advisories and tourists postpone trips to regions perceived as unstable. Projections suggest the Middle East alone could lose between 23 and 38 million international visitors with billions of dollars in lost tourism revenue.”
Fadina, however, said that from a strategic tourism perspective, such global disruptions could also create new opportunities for emerging destinations like Nigeria.
According to him, periods of geopolitical uncertainty usually encourage travellers to explore closer, regional and culturally authentic destinations, noting that for countries like Nigeria, this is a signal to strengthen domestic and regional tourism markets across the sub-region.
He advised the government and industry experts to invest more deliberately in local tourism products, cultural heritage destinations, and creative economy experiences.
The ATPN President, emphasised that if the country could address its security challenges, professional tour guiding and product development, Nigeria could transform global uncertainty into a catalyst for a stronger domestic tourism economy and a more resilient West African tourism market.
“In summary, the war may slow international tourism flows, but it also reminds us that nations that organise their domestic tourism industry will always be more resilient in times of global instability,” Fadina added.
Fadina insisted that Nigeria must package its cultural and heritage assets into clear tourism products, while destinations such as Lagos, Badagry, Ota, Abeokuta, Ibadan and Osun could form a South-West cultural tourism corridor, combining entertainment, heritage, cuisine and indigenous history.
Also, he advised the government to treat tourism as infrastructure by deploying stronger local security coordination and well-trained tour guides who could serve as cultural ambassadors, while also contributing to local intelligence and visitor confidence.
He further added that tourism had moved beyond taking people to “some places,” rather, it’s about designing an experience, building trust and presenting culture as a structured economic product.
“Where some operators have done well is in passion and local access. Where we must improve is in standardisation, digital visibility, partnership with communities and traditional institutions and long-term destination management.
“If we package our indigenous destinations properly, with authenticity, safety, and economic value, tourism can become a serious driver of jobs, peace and local prosperity.
At ATPN, our focus is simple: move tourism from an informal activity to a viable, structured economy,” he added.
In spite of the challenges of insecurity in Nigeria, Fadina said this should not deter tour operators from local destinations like Olojo Festivals, Ojude Oba, Detty December, Lisabi Day and Iganmode Day, rather it should encourage them to package destinations more responsibly, communicate transparently and build trust through professional standards.
Also, another tourism expert, Dr Lucky George, noted that the ongoing crisis was devastating and would affect the entire Middle East as a safe and tourism-savvy destination.
Apart from tourism, George said real estate and future investment in the Gulf states would also be affected.
For Nigeria, he declared that the country still faces significant structural challenges that would limit its tourism competitiveness despite the opportunities.
According to him, tourism development requires long-term planning, infrastructure investment, and strong transportation networks, all of which take years to plan and build.
George also mentioned insecurity as one of the major challenges militating against tourism growth in Nigeria, saying the sector cannot thrive in a territory of chaos.
He added: “Nigeria is nowhere near being prepared in the first place. I repeat here again that without a national carrier, Nigeria at best would continue to remain a tourist-generating market to the rest of the world.
“Unfortunately, the local environment is not capable and not ready for any meaningful tourism activities, especially with the poor state of roads and limited local airlines that are again just too expensive for many Nigerians,” he said.
