The federal government has announced plans to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technology into Nigeria’s tourism and creative industries to accelerate economic growth and job creation.
?Speaking at the 2026 World Tourism Day celebration in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hanatu Musa Musawa, stated that adopting cutting-edge technology is essential for the nation to compete on the global stage.
?Delivering her keynote address on this year’s theme, ‘Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,’ Musawa highlighted how AI applications can revolutionize visitor experiences, streamline visa processes, and provide predictive data for managing national heritage sites and infrastructure.
The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Abdulkarim Ibrahim said, ?’Today, we stand at the threshold of the next great transformation: the age of artificial intelligence and the digital agenda.
‘The question before us is not whether this transformation will happen. It is whether we will shape it, or be shaped by it.
?Addressing potential risks associated with rapid digitization, the Minister outlined key governance priorities, stressing that technology must enhance-not replace-human connection and cultural identity.
?’As we digitalize our tourism sector and welcome artificial intelligence into our hotels, parks, airports, and booking platforms, we must do so responsibly,’ she added, emphasizing the need for strict data privacy standards, rural digital inclusion, workforce reskilling, and the preservation of cultural authenticity.
The minister, however, warned of the need for responsible deployment of AI in the tourism sector, saying that ‘We must ensure that our data is protected and our visitors’ privacy respected.’
She also said small businesses must not be left behind in the digital divide, but are actively brought along through training and support.
The minister also said the country’s cultural authenticity must be preserved. Technology should amplify our stories, not replace them.
The Minister also called for the reskilled and empowered workforce so that innovation creates opportunity rather than displacement.
?The Minister identified Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) alongside the creative sector-including Nollywood and Afrobeats-as primary drivers for non-seasonal, high-yield tourism.
?She noted that linking Nigeria’s global cultural footprint directly to structured travel experiences offers a fast track toward diversifying the nation’s economy. According to Musawa, MICE and creative-industry visitors spend more per capita, driving a broad multiplier effect across transport, hospitality, and local commerce.
?Concluding her address, Musawa called for strong public-private partnerships across tech providers, academic institutions, and traditional operators to build a smarter, more inclusive, and globally competitive tourism ecosystem for Nigeria.
‘I wish to emphasise that this transformation is not the responsibility of the government alone. It is a shared responsibility. It calls for genuine partnership between government and the private sector, between technology providers and traditional tourism operators, between our universities and our industry and between Nigeria and our international partners.
‘I therefore call on all stakeholders to join hands with the government to co-create a tourism sector that is smarter, more sustainable, more inclusive and more competitive on the world stage.’
?Musawa commended the youth for developing forward-thinking technological solutions tailored to the tourism sector and expressed gratitude to private-sector partners, including the management of Discovery Museum, for sponsoring mentorship programs and financial prize awards for the winners.
In his goodwill message, the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Ola Awakan, said the 2026 theme provided Nigeria with an opportunity to use digital innovation and AI to enhance destination promotion, improve visitor experiences, attract investment, create employment and increase tourism’s contribution to economic development.
Awakan said the NTDA remained committed to building a digitally enabled, investment-ready, inclusive and sustainable tourism ecosystem, while encouraging responsible application of technology that protects cultural authenticity, safeguards visitor information and empowers local communities.
The UN Tourism Secretary-General, Shaikha Al Nuwais, also stressed the need for an inclusive digital transformation of tourism, noting that AI could make the sector more efficient and resilient if properly managed, but warning that disconnected digital systems could leave businesses and communities behind.
She called for greater integration of bookings, payments and data so that technology strengthens livelihoods across the tourism value chain.