By Editor
Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Rt Hon Taiwo Olatunbosun has said his Ministry would continue to support Programmes and initiatives that will project the tourism potentials of the State to the World as well as promote Ekiti as the preferred tourists and business destination in Nigeria.
The Commissioner made the pledge in Ado-Ekiti while playing host to the Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre who paid him an advocacy visit on the forthcoming sixth edition of the yearly “Hike Ekiti Mountain Safari “ being cosponsored by the Bureau.
Olatunbosun who described Ekiti as a land of abundant tourists and business opportunities restated the commitment of the Oyebanji Administration to transform the State into a major all- year round national and international destination for tourists.
He stressed that it was part of steps to make the Tourism sector in the state more effective and vibrant that Governor Oyebanji upon assumption of office in 2022 October included Arts Culture and Tourism Development as one of the six developmental pillars of his administration and upgraded the erstwhile tourism department in the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism into a full fledged Bureau of Tourism Development with a Director-General as head , thus positioning the sector for thorough supervision and being given the right attention
The Commissioner pledged the support of his ministry in whatever way possible for the forthcoming sixth edition of the yearly “Hike Ekiti Mountain Safari”
Earlier in his remarks , the Director General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Ambassador Wale Ojo-Lanre, described tourism as key to the economic development of the state, as Ekiti is blessed with unique tourism assets including the Ikogosi Warms springs ,Arinta Waterfalls at Ipole-Iloro and the beautiful range of hills with breath taking landscape which the Oyebanji administration is committed to developing into world class tourists centres that would ultimately drive prosperity, employment, and development of the state.
He said the “ 6th Hike Ekiti Mountain Safari “ scheduled to hold the Abanijorin mountain, Iyin-Ekiti on April 1, 2024 is yet another opportunity to explore the amazing landscape of the state and other tourism offerings, stressing that the Bureau intends to use mountain hiking as a fulcrum to attract investors to the State.
The Director General who disclosed that Governor Oyebanji recently led a team to explore the mountainous ranges of the state as they hiked through the Ikogosi section of the state’s vast hiking trail also revealed that the Minister of Tourism , Mrs Lola Olu-John has agreed to participate in Hike Ekiti Mountain Safari and visit the Ikogosi Warm Spings Tourists Resort.
Ojo-Lanre also disclosed that Federal Government through the office of the Director General of National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Studies has agreed to Train 25 Ekiti indigenes in the act of tour packaging and tour management .
