Tourism

I receive over 2,000 tourists daily – Ooni of Ife

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Wednesday said that no less than 2, 000 tourists visit his  palace and other tourist sites around  Ile-Ife on  daily basis.

Ogunwusi said this during a press tour of the ancient city, ahead of the  Tourism Innovation and Development Innovation Conference (TIDA) slated for April 24.

The theme of the conference is: Impact of Sustainable Tourism Development and Marketing of Tourism Destinations on Host Communities.

TBI Africa said the News Agency of Nigeria  (NAN) reports that the tour was organised  to ascertain how far tourism had impacted on Ife community and its environs.

The monarch said Ife had become a good reference point in domestic tourism.

He said that  tourists from all over the world  had been visiting  the ancient town  on regular basis  to know more about  its culture.

Ogunwusi said that the tourist attractions in Ile- Ife and its environs were  no less than  401 and each has its history and significance.

He said  that each of these sites used to attract tourists from across the world to the ancient city and accounted for the huge number of tourists recorded daily.

The monarch said that to keep the good record and history, there had been orientation programmes for the residents.

He added that this was on how best they could be hospitable and familiarise themselves with the history of the town.

” Ife remains a tourist hub, the huge number of visitors I receive on a daily basis can attest to this.

” We want to ensure we do better in terms of hospitality, that is why we have continued to re-orientate our people on the essence of being hospitable,” he said.

Ogunwusi also  said that the town’s domestic tourism had greatly impacted  on the youth positively.

He said most of them had been trained as tour guides and curators; having shown interest in tourism over the years.

He said that  many youths had also travelled  to Brazil and other foreign countries due to their remarkable exposure to the growth of tourism in Ife.

” The  positive effect of tourism is evident in Ife.

“A lot of our youths have benefited greatly; most of them have relocated abroad having groomed our tourism potential well enough.

” Some of our youths are  now professional tour guides and curators, which remain their major source of income.

” Many of them have also embraced other businesses within  the tourism value chain, ” he said.

Earlier, Mr Femi Lawson, Founder of TIDA, said that the 2019 edition promises to rub off positively on individuals.

He said that as the theme of the conference suggests, Ife was picked to promote and give more awareness to its tourist sites as it is known to have rich cultures and tourism potential.

” TIDA is set for the development of ideas that will add value to  the promotion of tourism  through tourism insurance, infrastructural tourism and the virtual tourism device.

” This will help market the nation’s tourism potential domestically and help increase traffic of international tourists into the country,” he said.

Related posts

Customs hand over fake $6m to EFCC in Seme

Editor

Air Peace, Azman Air five others set to participate in hajj airlifting

Editor

Tourists want LASG to develop Epe Fish Market to boost revenue

Editor

AKWAABA: Exhibitors excited about bountiful sales, laud fair organisation

By Shile GIWA

African tourism, travel stakeholders suggest single visa to travel within ECOWAS countries

By Abisola THOMPSON

NEMA receives 162 stranded Nigerians from Libya

Editor