By JOAN ODAFE

A tourism consultant, Mr Uche Chinonso, has proposed developing Nigeria’s ancient shrines as tourism destinations.

Chinonso said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

Chinonso, who is the Chief Executive Officer of E-Travels and Tour, said the initiative had the potential to yield substantial revenue for Nigeria and to expose tourists to the nation’s indigenous spiritual and cultural heritage.

He said he had written an open letter to the Federal Government seeking a concession to take over ancient shrines across Nigeria.

“I’m going to make millions of dollars for Nigeria. It’s a big tourism,” he said.

According to him, spiritual tourism remains largely unexplored in spite of growing interest among foreigners in Nigeria’s traditional religious heritage.

“A lot of the West wants to see our religion; they want to go to these spiritual centres,” he said.

He said Nigerians should stop viewing indigenous religious sites only through religious prejudice and instead recognise their cultural and tourism values.

Chinonso said foreigners often showed greater appreciation for Nigeria’s traditional heritage than Nigerians themselves.

“They appreciate it 100 per cent; so, it’s only Nigerians that demonise what they have.

“I usually visit spiritual sites whenever I travel because such places reveal important aspects of a destination’s cultural identity.

“The first thing I do in any destination I go to, both Nigeria and outside Nigeria, is to visit the spiritual site of that destination,” he said.

Chinonso encouraged Nigerians, regardless of religion, to promote the cultural heritage in their communities as a way of supporting tourism. (NAN)