Minister of tourism, culture and national orientation, Sen. Jibril Gada said in Sokoto State that the global economic crisis has emphasised the need for Nigeria to promote its tourism industry, the Daily Triumph reports.

Gada was speaking at the opening of the 6^th Annual National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation.

According to him the crisis has exposed the weaknesses in the economies of small nations. The minister said that Nigeria must diversify its economy and that now is the perfect time to do so.

He went on to say that Nigeria has vast cultural and tourism potential, which could be a major source of economic growth.

He added that tourism currently only contributes 0.95% to Nigeria's GDP and that the government's target is to increase this to 4%.