A curator at the Nigerian
Tourism Development Corporation      (NTDC)Mrs Aniette Ibe, said the country could explore the tourism industry to overcome the challenges of unemployment.
Ibe said this in an interview  with newsmen at the Osun Osogbo Festival, at Osogbo, last Friday.
She said that already, the sector was one of the nation’s leading employers oflabour, adding that if well harnessed, its potential could help in tackling the problem of joblessness in the nation.
She told  newsmen  that tourism had the potential which went beyond showcasing the country’s natural and cultural heritage to a huge employer of labour.
She said that “engaging in handicrafts and artistic works in an economy where white coll-ar jobs are not forth coming will drastically douse the tension of the menace of unemployment in the country.
“Aside oil, Nigerian youths can easily make a living out of tourism without stress, which will certainly expose them to array of innovations and diverse inventions.
“Of course, their level of exposure in the industry, coupled with their degree of creativity will definitely turn the country to a viable tourist attraction arena,” she said.
She said that youths should be properly orientated on the importance of tourism so that they would embrace the sector and shun acts of violence.
Speaking on the festival, she said: “This event adds value to our traditional religion, where respect for one another, unity and togetherness are the watch word for all adherents.