The dream of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of making Ondo State, Nigeria’s choice tourist destination is near realisation as the governor has moved the project a notch higher. He declared one of the state’s rural and rustic enclaves, Araromi, with the best beach front in Nigeria, as a Tourism Zone last week.
The governor unfolded his vision for Araromi, which is located in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the State, after a strategic meeting with Akinboboye in his Alagbaka, Akure office. In attendance 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.
According to the governor, it was time to develop the huge potentials of the state in tourism, using a new approach, hence the declaration of Araromi beach front as Tourism Zone, noting that the development of the project will be in partnership with La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, with a view to replicating the success stories of tourism as evident in other climes, with particular reference to Dubai.
‘‘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.
Akinboboye applauded the governor for this bold move, assuring him of the huge benefits that it would bring to the state, especially in the area of infrastructure development and job creation as well as in transforming the rural community into a fast growing economic and tourist destination of first choice.
According to him, of the 840 kilometers of beach front that Nigeria has, Ondo State boasts 200 kilometers, which is the longest, most naturally endowed, pristine and the best. Therefore, it has limitless potentials that can beat any beach front community in the world.
“I am sure you are aware that there is 840 kilometers of beachfront in Nigeria across six states in which Ondo State has the longest, with almost 200 kilometers of it,’’ Akinboboye said.
Continuing, he said: “The entire Dubai has a total of 70 kilometers of beachfront; they welcome over 15.9 million visitors every year. Just imagine if they spend a thousand dollars, multiply 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 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.”