The Lagos State Government has announced that 18,273 international tourists visited the state in 2024, showing a steady rise in foreign arrivals and signaling growing global interest in the state’s tourism and cultural offerings.
The latest figure marks an improvement from 14,357 foreign visitors in 2022 and 16,798 in 2023, pointing to consistent year-on-year growth. The government says this upward trend is part of a broader effort to position Lagos as one of Africa’s top five tourist destinations.
The disclosure was made on Tuesday in Ikeja during a Public Policy Engagement Session with key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the entertainment and tourism sectors. The session was organised by the Policy Analysis, Monitoring, and Evaluation Department of the Cabinet Office.
Speaking at the event, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said Lagos is committed to becoming a leading hub for authentic cultural and heritage experiences in Africa. She was represented by Kehinde Gbajumo, Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (OSSG) – Cabinet Office.
Salu-Hundeyin said the government is actively expanding the tourism ecosystem, strengthening the creative economy, and attracting more international visitors through deliberate policy actions and partnerships.
“We want Lagos to be counted among the top five destinations in Africa. Our rich culture, heritage, music, and festivals already give us an edge. What we are doing now is building on that to attract more people globally,” she said.
She also explained that the policy engagement was designed to evaluate the progress made under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, especially around the entertainment and tourism pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus development agenda.
The session also served as a platform for stakeholders to review ongoing initiatives and share ideas on how to improve the state’s tourism performance. The Secretary to the State Government noted that all inputs from the event would be carefully reviewed by the Policy Analysis, Monitoring, and Evaluation Department to strengthen future planning.
The T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda stands for Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, Entertainment and Tourism, Security and Governance, with the “Plus” representing inclusion, youth engagement, and resilience.
Speaking further, Oladele Oyatope, Head of the Policy Analysis, Monitoring, and Evaluation Department, explained that Lagos’ tourism strategy is guided by two major documents — the Lagos State Tourism Master Plan (2020–2040) and the Lagos State Tourism Policy.
According to him, the 20-year Master Plan projects that by 2040, Lagos will generate $5.1 billion in tourism receipts and create over 1.1 million direct tourism-related jobs.
“Our goal is clear — we want to boost the contribution of tourism to Lagos’ GDP, create jobs for our youths, and make Lagos a go-to destination for both leisure and business travellers,” Oyatope said.
He acknowledged the progress made so far but noted that more work is needed, especially in terms of branding, international advocacy, and cultural promotion.
“A major area we must improve on is branding. We need to showcase the unique cultural identity of Lagos to the world. That’s how we’ll attract more people to come and experience our state,” he added.
Lagos is known as Nigeria’s commercial capital and is home to several cultural landmarks, including Freedom Park, Nike Art Gallery, Lekki Conservation Centre, and the annual Lagos Carnival. The city also plays host to major music, fashion, and film festivals, which draw crowds from within and outside Nigeria.
In recent years, the state government has invested in infrastructure, security, and digital innovation to make Lagos more tourist-friendly. Projects like waterfront development, road upgrades, and partnerships with local creators have helped create a more attractive environment for visitors.
The state’s vibrant nightlife, booming film and music industry, and expanding hotel and hospitality sector are also helping drive the tourism numbers higher.
The state government says it will continue to strengthen partnerships between the public and private sectors to sustain this growth. It is also calling on stakeholders to align their efforts with the tourism vision of the state.
With over 18,000 foreign tourists already recorded in 2024 and more events lined up before the end of the year, officials are optimistic that the numbers will continue to rise.
“We have what it takes — the culture, the energy, and the people. Now it’s about taking Lagos to the world,” said Salu-Hundeyin.
As the global travel industry continues to recover from recent disruptions, Lagos is positioning itself as a strong player in African tourism and the rising numbers show that the world is taking notice.
