NIGERIA can increase its Gross Domestic Product, (GDP) to 9 percent through tourism by the year 2025, if only the country could harness its abundant resources effectively.

Ambassador of United Kingdom, (UK) to Africa in the field of hospitality, Mr. Trevour Ward, made the observation at the maiden World Tourism Conference, (WTC) organised by Kwara State University, (KWASU) Malete, Moro Local Government Council of Kwara yesterday.

Ward stated that the recent World statistics on Tourism rating put Nigeria's exploited potentials at a mere four per cent, stressing that a more reliable data on Nigerian tourism industry shows it as a catalyst for the nation's socio, political and economic development.

Speaking on the topic, 'Millions of Tourists, Millions of Opportunities', the UK Ambassador said based on the abundance of unexploited potential, he prefers the topic to be 'Trillions of Tourists, Trillions of Opportunities', noting that the derivable benefits in the tourism industry had since risen from millions to trillion.

Insisting that it was the global awareness level he recommends for Nigeria to promptly pursue especially in the area of job creation, adding that WTD usually comes up every year at the end of summer holiday on September 27, to underline its imperative on global economy.