Tourism as the name implies entails the processes of traveling/touring (usually with an objective) for not less than 24 hours. All tourism necessarily involves travelling but all travel do not necessarily involves tourism. 

People tour for many purposes such as sightseeing, medical trip, visit to friends and relation, business trip, etc and all these trips can be called tourism once the duration of stay exceeds 24 hours.

Tourism in Nigeria centers largely on events, due to the country's large number of ethnic groups, but also includes rain forests, savannah, waterfalls, and other natural and man made attractions. Nigerian tourism dwells in joy and entertainment for every class.

Due to the fact that Nigeria is surrounded with coastal areas and Lagos being the state with many coastal areas is the centre of tourism in western part of Nigeria. Being a business-oriented area, Lagos is ranked amongst the list of the fastest most growing and populous cities in the world.

Lagos state have major ports in Nigeria which made it to be a major centre for import and export activities thus a great place for entrepreneurs to come and explore some business opportunities to expand their financial activities.

Lagos has become a vital centre for African and black cultural identity. A lot of festivals are held in Lagos; Some of the festivals includes:

a) Festac Food Fair held in Festac Town annually by Festaconline

b) Eyo Festival

c) Lagos Black Heritage Carnival

d) Lagos Carnival

e) Eko International Film Festival

f) Lagos Seafood Festac Festival.

Lagos has a number of sandy beaches by the Atlantic Ocean, including Elegushi Beach, Alpha Beach, Inagbe Grand Beach Resort and several others.

Lagos has a variety of hotels ranging from three star to five star hotels, with a mixture of local hotels such as Eko Hotels and Suites, Federal Palace Hotel and franchises of multinational chains such as Intercontinental Hotel, Sheraton and Four Points by Hilton.

Lagos has other Other places of interest such as Tafawa Balewa Square, Festac town, The Nike Art Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos and the Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos.

However, commercial activities survives in Lagos till Lagos becomes the capital of Nigeria to Nigeria's independence in 1960 and till today. Tourism thrives in Lagos because of the following reasons:

1. Lagos have common perimeter with some countries.

2. There are many natural beaches and resorts where people go for sightseeing and relaxation.

3. The success of commercial activities gives in way for immigration and emigration (as a result of import and export) caused introduction of new ideas, knowledge, people and developmental projects which elevates the image of Lagos.

4. For the fact that Lagos have remarkable historic events which necessitated the building of museums for archiving historical, scientific and cultural artifacts and this creates more memorable tourist attractions/views.

5. As a result of huge number of traders who came to trade in Lagos, more hotels, motel, parks, transportation means, entertainment hubs, monuments, resorts and other services were built.

6. The climatic weather of Lagos is quite conducive for tourists to feel relaxed and focused.

7. Cultural festivals and historic landscapes.

Today, in Nigeria, Lagos have the highest number of travel agencies and tour operating businesses to help travelers and tourists make travel arrangements with ease and thereby generating their own income.

Lagos state is the state that generate highest amount from internal revenue (taxes, levy and rates) and this enables the government to fund more projects.

The major problem that faces tourism in Nigeria presently is lack of tourism statistical data and government lackadaisical attitudes towards the sector. The industry also suffers from the
country's poor electricity, roads, and water quality.

Though Nigeria lacks tourism offices thus limiting the marketing of tourism in Nigeria, Nigeria have been one of the most visited
tourist location in the world. Nigerian temperature and climate have made tourism in Nigeria a favourable and comfortable one for tourists.