Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality industry is undergoing a major shift, as creativity and experience-led packages increasingly determine where travellers choose to stay.
This was revealed by Oyindamola Fashogbon, Senior Partner for Marketing and Communications at Whispering Palms Resort, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos.
According to her, modern travellers are no longer satisfied with basic accommodation alone. Instead, they want immersive, personalised experiences that make their time away truly memorable.
“The experience matters. It is not just to take time away, but what you do while taking time away,” she said.
Fashogbon explained that while resorts continue to record periods of strong room bookings, the real growth opportunity lies in curated activities that appeal to local travellers.
She noted that demand is increasingly driven by guests seeking short, meaningful escapes, rather than long-distance or international travel.
“We have seen a pickup in room uptake,” she said.
adding that guests are more focused on creating moments than simply changing locations.
Technology and Economy Forcing Innovation
Economic pressures and advances in technology are also reshaping leisure choices, as many traditional activities can now be replicated at home.
“People can easily do some things in the comfort of their homes because of technology,” Fashogbon said.
To stay competitive, resorts are responding by expanding beyond room-and-meal packages to deliver standout experiences.
At Whispering Palms Resort, this shift has led to the introduction of offerings such as:
- Boat cruises
- Spa sessions
- Private dining experiences
- Themed entertainment
“We recently introduced our movie on the sands and dinner under the stars,” she revealed.
Using Valentine’s Day celebrations as an example, Fashogbon said peak travel seasons now demand highly creative concepts to attract guests.
“This season has called for a need to be very creative in offerings,” she stated, noting that travellers are motivated by unique experiences and lasting memories.
Tourism Still Delivers Strong Local Economic Value
Beyond guest satisfaction, Fashogbon stressed that tourism spending continues to generate significant benefits for the local economy, particularly through Nigerian-made products and services.
Estimating the Valentine’s Day value exchange in the hundreds of millions of naira, she said the wider economy would clearly benefit.
“The economy is going to benefit from it, definitely,” she added.
