Benefits of tourism simplified: How Fayemi’s inauguration boosted Ekiti’s tourism economy

I am hoping that there will come a time in Nigeria when governments at all levels will understand the import and importance of tourism in Nigeria.

The fact is that many of us don’t have a flint of idea of what tourism is other than hotels or amusement parks or historical sites visiting or recreation in clubs and joints.

Tourism is simply any act which takes you people from where they are domiciled to another place for other things other than regular paid job or permanent engagement.

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But in the course of travelling one is bound to pay for certain services which naturally if one does not embark on the journey, he or she would have not paid for such services.

Some do not even think about tourism as an economic entity which if carefully planned, sequentially implemented and corporately branded can spin economic fortune greater than any mineral resource.

First, tourism is a natural resource which deals   mainly with the environment and the ability of administrator to think beyond the box and add value to whatever nature has blessed that geographical area with

Tourism has its own uniqueness, which is its being inexhaustible, whereas most of the mineral resources are exhaustible.

Tourism is raw money. It is a ceaseless fountain of cash flow which only those who understand the process and manner of stoking its awesomeness explore for the benefit of their society which I expect every government should strive to understand

Tourism involves everybody. Unknown to many, we all participate in tourism every now and then but our participation has not been properly structured as to make it beneficial to the nation.

What the government has been doing mostly is what is called classical tourism ,which is mostly related to the cities and few urban areas where there are scattered man made tourist sites.

According to  TTH’s investigation, the inauguration of Dr Kayode Fayemi as the new Governor of Ekiti State has led to dearth  of hotel rooms as all hotels in the city have an epic record of full occupancy

Investigation revealed that the impact of the inauguration ceremony become noticeable from Saturday, October 13 2018 when almost all the notable hotels in Ado Ekiti recorded a phenomenal rise in occupancy rate

According to Asiwaju Deji Olajubu,  President De Jewel Apartment, located on Ijan Road, opposite Immigration, Ado – Ekiti, “the feeling of good business started creeping in on Saturday when there was an increase in  demand for rooms. Then on Sunday, we had gotten all our rooms fully booked from Monday to Thursday.  I made attempt at calling seven other hotels for reservation as we normally do, all told me they had full booking . This is an epic event and we are feeling the Imapct “

One thing we should understand here is that, these hotels have been in Ado since and had not been recording full occupancy rate.

Why this?

The reason is that because of the inauguration ceremony  and  other events,  many people from all over the world have embarked on a journey from their bases en route Ado Ekiti to be part and witness the inauguration ceremony. This is an example of tourism.

And some of these people will have to sleep, eat, buy drugs, have fun, all which cannot be derived free without parting with money.

And those who will benefit directly from the inauguration ceremony include: petrol stations from any destination to Ado; En route restaurants,  bars, bukaterias and canteens; mechanics, hoteliers in Ado and its environs ; pharmacists and drug stores, okada operators, restaurants, bars and lounges, electricity company, while there will be demand for food items and dietary products as there will be the need  to feed the visitors and replenish the stores.

This is how tourism generates income, circulates wealth and injects money into the society.

Imagine how happy those in these sub- sectors of the economy will be   if 12 of such events capable of attracting thousands of people to Ado Ekiti are held in a year.

Think Tourism.

Tourism is a potent wealth creator.