Ondo: Using New Approach For Unlocking Huge Tourism Potentials

The Ondo State Government has expressed its readiness to develop huge tourism potential across states.

The Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Oluwarotimi Akeredolu made this known during a strategic meeting with the La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort management team in Akure, Ondo State capital.

Speaking, while using Dubai as a reference point, Governor Akeredolu noted that the view of the natural enclave would be replicating success stories of tourism as evident in other climes.

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According to him, ‘‘We have reached an agreement to declare our waterfronts or shores, where we have a lot of advantages in the country, a Tourism Zone,” said Akeredolu.

In addition, the Founder, La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye declared Araromi the best beachfront in Nigeria and said the beach would rank the community as the first in the history of Nigerian tourism to be officially declared a Tourism Zone.

And to this, he noted the new move would see to development and transformation of rural communities into a thriving blue economy for benefit of global business, leisure travellers, and locals as well.

According to him, however, this latest project of the governor is in conjunction with La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, which is also a major stakeholder in tourism development in the State.

In attendance at the session were the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; the Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wale Akinlosotu; and the Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Dare Aragbaye

Lately, in his remarks, Akinboboye applauded the governor for this bold move, thereby assuring him of the huge benefits that it would bring to the state, especially in the area of infrastructure development and job creation; adding such development would transform the rural community into a fast-growing economic and tourist destination of the first choice.

According to him, of the 840 kilometres of beachfront that Nigeria has, Ondo State boast 200 kilometres, which is the longest, most naturally endowed, pristine and the best. He, therefore, noted it has limitless potential that could beat any beachfront community in the world.

“I am sure you are aware that there are 840 kilometres of beachfront in Nigeria across six states in which Ondo State has the longest, with almost 200 kilometres of it,’’ disclosed Akinboboye.

He stated further: “The entire Dubai has a total of 70 kilometres of beachfront; they welcome over 15.9 million visitors every year. Just imagine if they spend a thousand dollars, multiplied by 15.9 million people; that is what Mr Governor wants to replicate, to bring the entire world here. “We have the richest ocean because of limited operations of trolleys, so our sea is extremely rich with different species of fish, prawns and the entire tourism activities that we believe very strongly will not only attract just Nigerians but Africans in the Diaspora.

“A declaration like this will attract the world to that area for business opportunities. With this declaration, we in the state would have built a humongous platform for tomorrow’s people.

“The platform we are standing on today was built by yesterday’s people. Mr Governor has begun the process to build the platform for tomorrow’s people.”