One of the pillars of tourism promotion in Oyo State and Chief Executive Officer of Dvine Travels and Tours, Mr Olumuyiwa Salami has described the leadership spirit of the new in governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, as a clear indication that tourism will be given its rightful place in the scheme of things in the state.
Salami, who spoke with great optimism about the governor’s energy to institute practical synergies to grow the state’s economy, said that tourism is a sector that needed actions rather than lip service and he expects positive actions in growing tourism business through his investment drive.
“For anyone that understands the dynamics of business and the global trend of tourism today, we will all know that Oyo State is endowed with rich natural and man-made tourism potentialities that can scale up the GDP of the state as well as create unlimited job opportunities for people of the state.
“The tourism sites in Ibadan and other parts of the state are enormous, revered and unique in all sense and when they are given practical attention, it will impact positively and change the landscape from what we presently have in the state.
“It is painful that we are sitting on goldmine when we talk of tourism offerings, but we have not been able to harness the potentialities to the best of our capacity or even activate plans that will turn around the economy.
“The state has different agenda to drive the economy, but I am optimistic that if tourism is given a prominent stake in the new administration’s agenda, it will help to generate additional revenue to the state’s coffers.”
Salami, who believes that tourism is life, also said that any thing that promotes life is a good business that will attract domestic and international tourists, adding that it takes a serious and broadminded government to make it a reality.
“I see the Makinde-led action government as one that will make tourism to come alive in the state. We have tourism stakeholders and travel experts who are operating in the state and through a purposeful public and private sector partnership, tourism in the state will become a mainstay just like other sector of the economy.
“Since the governor’s inspired inaugural speech, they have been ray of hope that Oyo State will be one of the tourism states in Nigeria and I hope with a purposeful synergy with the stakeholders, there will be many good things to benefit from the sector,” he said.
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