By Janefrances Chibuzor
Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, has urged Nigerians to explore and promote local destinations, saying Nigeria has sufficient cultural and tourism assets to attract visitors
Engineer Ayola Olatunji, Vice President of NANTA, East Zone, unveiled ‘The Principles of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Volume 1’, authored by Jands Travel Business School convener Chioma Obi, at the festival in Enugu.
The 2026 Domestic Tourism Festival featured cultural displays, award presentations and a youth tourism pitch, with stakeholders calling for stronger investment in technology and promising young innovators.
ENUGU, NIGERIA — The Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke, has urged Nigerians to explore and promote local tourism destinations, saying the country has enough cultural and tourism assets to reduce the attraction of travelling abroad for holidays.
Madueke made the call on Saturday at the opening of the 2026 Domestic Tourism Festival, organised by Jands Travel Business School in Enugu.
She said innovation and technology could transform tourism, improve visitors’ experiences, preserve cultural heritage and create sustainable economic opportunities.
The Commissioner also highlighted the state government’s investments in tourism infrastructure and destination development, saying some of the projects were nearing commissioning.
She urged Nigerians to tell and market their own stories, stressing that the country’s cultural identity and tourism attractions must be properly promoted to attract visitors.
The festival, themed “Innovation and Technology for Peaceful Domestic Tourism,” brought together tourism professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers, innovators and cultural stakeholders.
It featured cultural displays, award recognition and presentations across different categories, alongside a book review and unveiling.
A major highlight was the unveiling of ‘The Principles of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Volume 1’, authored by Chioma Obi, the convener of Jands Travel Business School.
The book was unveiled by Engineer Ayola Olatunji, Vice President of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), East Zone.Olatunji, who is also Chief Executive Officer of Bereeth Travels and Tours and Founder and President of Bertab Journeys, Rwanda, commended the book for combining theoretical knowledge with practical realities in tourism and hospitality.
He said the book would be useful to students, entrepreneurs and professionals in the industry, particularly those seeking to understand or establish businesses within the tourism sector.
Olatunji also commended the organisers for sustaining the festival, saying it had exceeded his expectations and provided an important platform for promoting Enugu as a tourism destination.
He urged investors to support young Nigerians who presented technology-driven tourism ideas during the festival’s pitch session.
According to him, the ideas showed that Nigeria has talented young people capable of developing digital solutions for the tourism industry, but many of them need funding and strategic support to turn their ideas into viable businesses.
He said investors should move beyond verbal encouragement and provide the resources required to develop promising ideas.
The festival also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to showcase Nigeria’s cultural diversity, promote domestic travel and explore ways technology and innovation can contribute to the growth of the tourism sector.
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