By Idris Olukoya
Oba Babatunde Ogunlaja, the Aladeshonyi of Odo-Noforija, in Epe Division, has called on government at all levels to harness the untapped tourism potential at the grassroots.
This, according to him, will boost revenue and foster sustainable community development.
Ogunlaja, in interview on Thursday in Noforija-Epe, noted that his community was blessed with enormous tourism assets, yet to be developed.
He implored local government councils to look inwards and invest heavily in the tourism sector.
The traditional ruler stated that such initiatives, if harnessed, would not only open up rural economies, but also improve the livelihoods of residents.
According to him, harnessing these resources will promote the tourism prospects of the community, enhance cultural heritage and bring about overall development.
The traditional ruler added that the grassroots tourism potential, if properly harnessed would contribute significantly to the country’s drive for economic diversification.
“It will also boost government revenue earnings,” he said.
He said traditional rulers were ready to partner with government and private investors to develop viable tourist attractions across communities.
Ogunlaja said that public-private partnerships remained critical to unlocking the economic benefits embedded in community-based tourism.
He urged policymakers to design policies that would make rural areas attractive for tourism investors.
According to him, inadequate infrastructure such as roads, water supply and electricity has hindered growth in the sector.
The traditional ruler called for collaboration with the youth and women in host communities, saying they remained vital stakeholders in driving grassroots tourism initiatives.
Ogunlaja noted that capacity-building programmes, skills training and access to finance would empower them to actively participate in the tourism value chain.
He expressed optimism that with the right investment and enabling environment, Odo-Noforija and other rural communities, could become major tourism hubs in the state.
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