There are countries where tourism power their economy. Even countries with little or no historical artefacts and cultural monuments have invented and curated mind boggling tangible and intangible heritage. In places like Dubai, where desert has dwarfed some chunk of their land, the country’s leadership has found a way to turn desertification into economic beatification.
Sahara desert for instance is considered the largest in the world yet has little or no economic significance. What makes Dubai a tourism hub and Sahara, a deserted place with little foreign attraction lies in its leadership. And that takes us back to 18th century.
In 2015, about 6.91 million people ascended the Eiffel Towers, making it the most visited-paid monument in the world. Apart from that, the towers is considered a Global cultural icon, becoming one of he most recognizable structures in the world. And that journey all started on the 28th January, 1887 when the construction of the giant structure kicked off. For the next several months, and precisely on the 15th March 1889, the magnificent building was completed. For public use, the towers was declared opened on the 31st March, 1889. Named after Campagnie des establissements Eiffel, and owned by the City of Paris, the structure has continued to be one of the biggest tourist attraction in the world. What about Dubai?
Dubai, one of the top ten driest place in the world rose to prominence as place of luxury, opulence and affluence when its founder leaders Ubaid bin Saeed and Maktum bin Butti Al-Maktoum envisioned a city that can be. Apart from being one of the word’s most popular tourist destination, with the second most five-star hotels in the world, and the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. The city has continued to focus on tourism and hospitality while aiming to be the business hub of western Asia.
Eiffel Towers, Paris, France and Dubai, United Arab Emirates rose gradually steadily to the places of prominence, reputation and attraction through certain trajectory. Part of which is on ground for Oyo to draw from. The building of Dubai for instance is an open secret. And its continuous relevance in culture, tourism and hospitality shows that religion an modernization can work side by side. An assurance that is enough to restore confidence in the sector. In 2018, oil production contributed to less than one per cent of the emirate’s GDP.
Oyo is often described as a potentially tourist destination. But there should be concerted efforts geared towards restoring the lost glories of our cultural heritage both tangible and intangible. And that will mean that the state Government moves from labeling the state as a potential tourist destination to making it a place to be for locals and foreigners. This can’t be achieved unless the government takes the bull by the horn.
There are monumental sites scattered across the state only begging for attention and intervention to come back to live. Although, this government promised to re-package the sector in its Road Map to Accelerated Development, nothing much in terms of resurrecting the moribund heritage has been put on ground. The former Commissioner for information, culture and tourism Dr.Wasiu Olatunbosu made series o visitations to notable places in the state with a view to making them a place of attraction.
For the state to reduce her dependence on federal allocation, there must be huge investment and intervention in tourism and hospitality especially in respect to bringing back the forgotten historical monuments such as Old Oyo National park, Ado-awaye suspende alke. If tourism could make Dubai a place to be, it can also turn Oyo to a cynosure of all eyes.
OYO101, Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion on issues affecting Oyo State, is published on Saturdays. He can be reached via muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com and 09065176850.
