Nigeria is willing to enhance cooperation with China in the tourism sector, an official of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) told Xinhua on Friday.

Olusegun Runsewe, director-general of the NTDC said the corporation has designed a special website in Chinese language in a bid to attract more tourists from China.

The NTDC is a tourism body responsible for promoting, marketing and disseminating information on Nigeria's tourism industry locally and internationally.

"We receive over 200 enquiries from the Chinese audience on a daily basis, requesting to know more about Nigeria," said Runsewe, who is planning to visit China in early April to formalize arrangement with the Chinese counterpart.

"We have identified China as a big market for our tourism industry to move forward, because we see them as a strategy partner," he said.

There are huge opportunities in Nigeria's tourism industry for investments, he said.

"We have most of the biggest hotels in world operating in Nigeria, but we want more Chinese to come into Nigeria because they are special," he said.

"They are lovely people, nice people and very hospitable," he added.

According to Runsewe, tourism industries had taken the driver's seat in the economies of many countries, noting that Nigeria is ready to enhance cooperation with China in this sector.

"At least 114 world airlines flies into Nigeria on a weekly basis," he said.

On security, he said the corporation is committed to providing the enabling business environment for visiting tourists and investors.

"We have mapped out a security network and I can assure you that all is well," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2010)