I consider it a great honour to be asked to present a speech at this epoch making and historical event, WORLD TOURISM DAY 2021, taking place at this hilly town naturally endowed with one of the two suspended lakes in the whole World, Ado-Awaye.As we all celebrate this event -World Tourism Day 2021- globally, I want to specially salute the Government of Oyo State and the people of Ado-Awaye for the wisdom to host this year’s event here at Ado-Awaye.
I believe that United Nations World Tourism Organisation(UNWTO) was deliberate in its choice of the Theme for World Tourism Day 2021 – TOURISM FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH as this period represents one of the most challenging times for the entire World in human history.
As we all know, Tourism Sector was most badly hit by the Covid-19 Pandemic and it has become imperative to kick-start its recovery by focusing on the potential contributions this sector can make towards reaching Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Against this backdrop, I hereby rise on this great occasion to intimate us of the ever important roles of tourism in our day-to-day lives; at the end to this speech you will agree with me that if the potentials of tourism are properly harnessed, it will significantly impact positively on the economy of theOur Communities, Our State and Nigeria at large.Although, I am aware that His Excellency, our Executive Governor, is doing quite a lot in promoting Tourism in the State through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, it has become imperative for the State to redouble its efforts in giving full attention to tourism development.
In today’s world, Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors and that is why Tourism is celebrated universally on the 27th of September as set out by UNWTO.Prior to Covid-19 Pandemic, specifically in 2019, Travel and Tourism accounted for 1 out of 4 new jobs (334 Million jobs) created across the World, 10.6% of all jobs and 10.4% of global GDP (US9.2 Trillion). Sadly, in view of the Pandemic, the contribution of this sector to global GDP plummeted to 4.7% in 2020 with concomitant heavy job losses which was estimated at 62 Million, representing a drop of 18.5%. Coming back home, in Nigeria, the contribution of Travel and Tourism Sector to the GDP was 5.1% in 2019. Expectedly, the figure must have reduced significantly in 2020. It is encouraging to know that unlike the Information Technology, IT industry and other high technology industries, the tourism industry is one in which; even a developing country like ours can be a major player.
Today, we celebrate this event with great interest by various tourism enterprises, associations, organizations and government agencies. I want to assume we are no doubt conversant with tourism as the movement of people from one destination to another for sightseeing, pleasure, events, conferences, etc. with a commercial arrangement. The human desire to travel and explore is universal, which is why tourism must be opened for everyone to enjoy. Also, it is vitally important that the many social and economic benefits that tourism brings be made available to everybody.
Beyond World and National statistics on Tourism, let me focus now on many of the vast tourism sites and potentials in Oyo State. You will all recall Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), first Television Station in Africa; University of Ibadan, the First University in Nigeria; First Parliamentary building in the then Western Region; University College Hospital, Ibadan, which happened to be the first teaching hospital and the biggest in Africa; the Liberty Stadium, the First Stadium in Africa and several others are all situated here in Oyo State. Likewise we have monumental sites such as the Irefin Palace in Ibadan, Captain Bowers Towers in Oke Are, Ibadan, the only natural Suspended lake in the world,Iyake lake, popularly known as Ado-Awaye Suspended Lake, the foot of which is where we are gathered presently,the Royal Forest Igbo Oba in Igboho, IITA,Idere Hills in Idere, UI Zoological Garden, Botanical Garden UI, Agodi Gardens, Cultural Center Ibadan, Mapo Hall, Agbele Hills in Igbeti, National Museum of Unity Aleshinloye Ibadan, Old National Park in Oyo town as well asIlaji Resort in Oloyo Village,Akanran. Ibadan, a fast rising hospitality and sporting outfit which my humble self-came here to represent.
We are also endowed in cultural tourism through festivals such as Egungun Festivals, Sango Festival in Oyo, Oke‘badan Festival in Ibadan, Orayan Festival to mention a few. Once a tourism event is birthed everybody is one way or the other involved in such event be it the cab drivers, photographer, hotels, travel agencies, embassies, restaurant and canteen, security operatives, food vendors, hawkers, craftsman, lawyers, immigrations, customs, engineers, medical personnel, journalist etcetera.
In most developed and developing nations of the world, tourism is a major source of employment; it contributes immensely to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or national income of such countries. South Africa, UAE, France, China, Gambia, Kenya, Spain, United States of America etcetera are some of the countries that have taken tourism seriously and have, thus, earned handsome revenue through it. Without gain saying, tourism is a catalyst for socio-economic development of the communities concerned. Development such as social infrastructural amenities which include electricity, water supply, communication, transportation, motor-able roads, security and basic health care facilities are inseparable partners of tourism and, hence, will be found wherever a tourist site is situated.
All sectors of the economy play a vital role to create a stable and long lasting development in a country. However, tourism is one sector which does not play an important role alone but it also generates foreign exchange for the Country or State that harnesses its inherent benefits.Due to its nature, tourism hastens development, promotion and cultural norms of the people in the hinterland. Due to the presence of some tourist attraction centers in Oyo State in particular and the Nigeria in general, Oyo State and Nigeria are now in a world map. Just recently, our organization,Ilaji Hotels and Sport Resort hosted African Mini-Football Nations Cup wherein nothing less than ten African countries participated. That competition was a golden opportunity for us as Nation and a State with rich history to showcase our rich cultural heritage to the rest of the continent. It was a perfect opportunity we at Ilaji Resort did not allow to pass us by. Being an organization that is hospitality centered, we showcased our adire attire, music, drums and dance steps through Ilaji Cultural Troupe to the admiration of all the visiting teams.Just last December, precisely December 27, 2020, Nigeria and Oyo State became the most searched for in the Google search engine when an Oyo State indigene, RidwanOyekola Scorpion won the World Boxing Federation Super featherweight title bout right at the main bowl of Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort’s main Stadium, Akanran, Ibadan. It was a spectacle seeing a boy from Oje in Ibadan giving a ferocious fighter from Argentina, Lucas Matias Montesino, the beating of his life!
Being an engineer in oil and gas sector has given me an opportunity to travel far and wide, and having witnessed the tremendous turnaround tourism has given places like Egypt, South-Africa, Morocco, Kenya and Mauritius, United States of America, Spain and lately United Arab Emirate, I became convinced that one of the most potent instruments of societaldevelopment is tourism; with this determination, we envisioned Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort not solely as a money-making enterprise but more of a reformatory tool. In order to test the effectiveness of tourism as an instrument of positive change, I decided to establish Ilaji Resort in one of the most backward local governments (if not the most backward then)in Oyo State. Within three years of operations, Ona-Ara Local Government, our host council, has witnessed an accelerated socio-economic development. OnaAra local Government in not too distant future will soon become a Dubai of Africa through its association with Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort.
Tourism for inclusive growth is indeed a position we all need to take seriously and just as I have stated at the beginning of this speech, tourism is an adventure that we all partake in. There is no developed or developing nation that will not invest massively in its tourism potentials and it is always good to go a step further by marketing same to the World for revenue drive. I have attempted to list the ever importance of Tourism (using Ilaji Resort’s example where necessary) that has made it an inclusive growth of any Nation of the world.
INCOME GENERATION:
Tourism Sector can be easily be transformed into a tremendous revenue earner if our tourism sites and potentials are fully developed into historical monuments, natural parks, holiday resorts etc where our rich cultural heritage can the showcased to the whole world. The result effect will be a flow of both domestic and foreign tourists which will impact positively on the economies of the communities in terms of direct income generation and to the State in form of taxes, dues and levies. Hosting African Minifootball in July did earn our country economy some foreign exchange especially in the areas of immigration fees and logistics of the visiting teams which the State and the Community benefitted from the direct spending of the tourists while they were in Oyo State. By showcasing our ability to host successfully a continental event, it would not be a surprise if we are approached by African Minifootball Congress (AMC) to the host world in the nearest future.
EMPLOYMENT
The tourism industry encompasses many different areas, so it also creates jobs in many different areas.With tourism comes Travel consultants, Airlines, hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies, tour companies, service stations, souvenir and craft shops, sports equipment rentals, and much moreAll of these create many different levels of employment for people in a given community. Tourism is the third largest employer of labour in the world. Even as a growing hospitality outfit, we have provided employment opportunities to over 200 persons (both direct and indirect). By the time we reach our full potentials, our staff strength is likely to hit a thousand and even more.
BENEFITS TO LOCAL PEOPLE
Before we established Ilaji Resort at Ona-Ara Local Government, the council was one of the “forgotten communities” but with the tremendous supports we received from the State government, Ona-Ara Local Government has become investor’s number one choice. Also, Ado-Awaye is already experiencing same as we can all see.In addition, tourismprovides both the tourists and the local community an opportunity to experience other cultures, which broadens understanding.
RECREATION
Travel based recreation provides relief from the monotony of daily routine. A change in place and climate helps a traveler to recharge his mind, body and spirit thus giving him a sense of exposure
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
Tourism can provide direct jobs to the community, such as tour guides or hotel housekeeping. Indirect employment is generated through other industries such as agriculture, food production, and retail.Visitors’ expenditure generates income for the local community and can lead to the alleviation of poverty in countries which are heavily reliant on tourism.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
Tourism provides financial support for the conservation of ecosystems and natural resource management, making the destination more authentic and desirable to visitors.It also adds more value to the local tourism business.
DIVERSIFICATION
In addition to bringing prosperity to an economy, it also allows an economy to develop a new form of income.This acts as an insurance policy in case of hard times, because the additional dollars coming in can help support traditionalindustries in case they come under financial pressure.For instance, in order to keep up with our status as one of the fast rising hospitality outfit in Africa at Ilaji Hotels & Sports Resort, it behooves on us to ensure a smooth transition for our customers who are scattered in every part of the world, it is with this in mind that we have established a sister company, Ilaji Travels and Tours Agency.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The additional revenue that comes into a community where a tourist center is situated also benefits the local people. By getting more revenue, government will be pleased to invest in the infrastructure that is lacking in that community. Oyo State government, has in its magnanimity, opened up Ilaji Resort to the city through the construction and asphaltic tarring of Odeyale-Ajia Road. This new road has no doubt connected Ilaji Resort and other communities to the outside world. Also, one of the projects we embarked upon three years ago was the electrification resuscitation of several communities in our host council. It was a moment of ecstasy for the people of these communities when they were connected to the national grid as majority of them never experienced electricity supply for over thirteen years.
POVERTY REDUCTION
Poverty is an economic condition of lack of both money and such basic necessities of life such as food, water, education, shelter and other basic needs of life.Tourism could serve as a source of poverty reduction in Nigeria if the people trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty are brought into the desirable cycle of riches. As a means of youths’ empowerment and poverty liberation of the people of our host council, we have made conceited efforts to use sports as a tool for poverty eradication. Our intention is to identify sporting talents form these local communities, nurture them and then expose them to the advanced countries of the world where they can earn fortunes not only for themselves but the people around them.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE GENERATION
In addition to income generation and employment opportunities, tourism equally helps a country to overcome balance of payment problem.This is because international tourists who buy tourism services add value to the receiving country’s revenue accounts in that nation’s invisible transaction
In conclusion, the roles of tourism in the economic development of a country cannot be over emphasized and for any Country, State or community to fully maximize the inherent benefits, the tourism potentials must be adequately harnessed, fully developed and efficiently managed. I must say that for Ado-Awaye to be transformed into an international tourist destination, some works need to be done by the State Government and the community as a matter of urgency. These include but are not limited to the provision of access roads, introduction of proper landscape through the use of walkways, street lights, kerbs, sit out, plants with a view to achieving good aesthetics, employment of experts, proper management, strategic alliances and partnerships with other tourist organizations, sustained funding of infrastructures, effective publicity and campaign and embedding sustainability for long-term realization of the highlighted benefits.
At this juncture, I want to congratulate His Excellency, Engr Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Hon. Muftau Osuolale Abilawon, Chairman, Iseyin Local Government, the Chief Host and His Royal Majesty and the paramount ruler of Ado Awaye, Oba (Rev’d) Ademola Olugbile Folakanmi, Makuledoye II, Iludero I, Alado of Ado Awaye once again for deeming it fit to celebrate this year’s tourism day in a grand style. Today’s event is a demonstration of the fact that His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde led government is fully committed to the development and promotion of tourism and tourists’ destinations within the state. The time to engage the stakeholders and vast professionals in this sector is right now. I will be glad to see a tourism master plan for Oyo state activated. Doing this will astronomically increase our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), an exercise this present administration has devoted its attention to since its assumption of office. There is no doubt that doing that will make Oyo State take its rightful position in Tourism in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. I wish everyone a fun filled and great exposure today as we explore this wonder freely given to us by God in Ado Awaye.
Thanks and God Bless.
Engr (Chief) Dotun Sanusi
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer,
Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort (Hospitality) Limited,
Oloyo Village,
Ibadan.
