The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has described the Federal Government‘s lifting of the suspension on regulatory activities in Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism sector as a significant step towards revitalising the industry and advancing inclusive sector development.

Director-General of NIHOTOUR, Abisoye Fagade, stated this, yesterday, during the national hospitality and tourism stakeholders’ forum, themed: ‘Shaping the Future of Nigerian Tourism Together’, organised by the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) in Abuja.

Fagade said the forum brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to deliberate on strategies to strengthen collaboration, improve standards, and drive sustainable progress within the industry.

He declared that the directive would reposition tourism as a key driver of the national economy, adding that the directive of the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, alongside the introduction of a concessionary framework offering discounts and flexible onboarding pathways, reflected a deliberate and strategic effort to deepen industry participation and enhance compliance.

The NIHOTOUR DG further explained that the ministry’s intervention aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

which he said, prioritises economic diversification, job creation and the development of high-impact sectors such as tourism.

He said: “This is not merely a regulatory adjustment. It is a forward-thinking strategy to reposition tourism as a key driver of national development.

“It demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusivity, sustainability, and global competitiveness.”

Fagade also highlighted NIHOTOUR’s dual mandate as a regulatory and developmental institution, emphasising its focus on building a skilled, certified, and globally competitive workforce to support the sector.

He, however, said that the institute was currently deploying the National Registration Portal (NRP), a transformative digital platform designed to formalise the industry by registering, certifying, and verifying tourism practitioners and institutions nationwide.

Fagade further acknowledged the leadership of the Director-General of NTDA for convening the timely stakeholders’ forum, noting that such engagements are essential for fostering alignment and collective action across the sector.

He said that a significant portion of Nigeria’s tourism workforce currently operates outside formal regulatory structures, a challenge he regretted, continued to impact service delivery and international competitiveness.

He, therefore, called on key stakeholders, including private sector operators, industry associations and state governments, to take full advantage of the Federal Government’s concessionary framework and actively participate in the ongoing reform process.

He also reaffirmed NIHOTOUR’s commitment to enabling progress and stressed that regulation should be seen as a tool for advancement, rather than a limitation.

He called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders as a foundation for building a resilient, inclusive and globally competitive tourism sector that reflects Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and vast economic potential.