The President of the National Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) and Chief Executive Officer of Grand Express Tour Centre (GET), Alhaja Bolaji Mustapha, has attributed the growing success of Nigeria’s Detty December tourism phenomenon to years of groundwork by Nigerian tour operators.
Alhaja Mustapha made the remarks during the Naija7Wonders Zoom Conference 3.0, hosted by renowned tourism promoter and organiser of the Akwaaba African Travel Market, Amb. Ikechi Uko.
According to the NATOP president, inbound travel packages were completely sold out in December 2025, reflecting unprecedented demand from both the diaspora and international visitors. “December was extremely busy. Inbound travel sold out completely, and Lagos witnessed weddings back-to-back throughout the period,” she said.
She highlighted the increasing international appeal of Nigerian social and cultural events, citing a wedding in Lagos that recorded a large turnout of guests from Rwanda as evidence of Nigeria’s rising profile as a festive travel destination.
Mrs. Mustapha, however, noted that the Detty December boom also came with challenges. One of the major issues was congestion at airports, driven by the massive influx of Nigerians in the diaspora returning home for the festive season. Another key challenge, she said, was the sharp increase in accommodation costs, with apartments and hotels charging significantly higher rates during the peak period. She stressed the need for better collaboration between tour operators and hotel owners, urging both parties to work towards subsidised and contract-based rates ahead of the 2026 Detty December season.
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Looking ahead, the NATOP president revealed that tour operators are already working on strategies to make Detty December 2026 more organised and globally competitive.
Among the plans is the rollout of professionally produced welcome videos aimed at foreign visitors, similar to tourism promotion initiatives adopted by Kenya following the visit of global internet sensation IShowSpeed. She also emphasized the importance of early communication, encouraging international travellers to book their trips through licensed tour operators well ahead of time.
Mrs. Mustapha called on government at all levels to intensify efforts to develop and upgrade tourism sites across the country, noting that Detty December has evolved beyond being a Lagos-centric event. “Detty December is no longer just about Lagos. It is now a national tourism phenomenon that can showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage if properly supported,” she said.
She concluded that with sustained private-sector collaboration and stronger public-sector backing, Detty December could become one of Africa’s most powerful tourism brands, driving economic growth, job creation and global visibility for Nigeria.
