Tourism is also one of the growing sectors of the Nigerian economy. The industry was accorded priority status in 1990 when the National Tourism Policy was launched. The main thrust of Government policy on tourism was to generate foreign exchange earnings, create employment opportunities, and promote rural enterprises and national integration, among other things. Tourists visiting the country will gain insights into a glorious past and a promising future, set amid the natural beauty of this diverse country. From rain forests in the south, and broad savanna woodlands in the center, to a semi-desert region in the north, Nigeria offers a remarkable range of physical beauty in her land and the hospitality of her people, ready to be enjoyed by the tourists fortunate enough to choose this land of ancient empires as their travel destination. The richness and diversity of the Nigerian culture is a manifestation of the socio-cultural differences of the over 250 ethnic groups that have inhabited the land for ages.