The Governor ofOndo State, DrOlusegun Mimiko has said that his urban renewal programme and projects were all aimed at making the state a tourist destination desired by all.'Everything we have been planting in Ondo- State through the Urban Renewal Projects and programmes are all conceived and executed with the intention of attracting investors and enhancing the economic potentialities of the state.'Governor Mimiko who made this revelation during an interactive session with pressmen in Akure recently said that improving on the environment and enhancing its topography would not only make it a place to be loved by indigenes, but also serve as attraction to investors and businessmen from all walks of life.'We believe that there should be a fundamental progression in the physical presentation of the state capital from the primordial state of antiquated infrastructures and facilities to a delectable and attractive metropolis with functional trappings and subsequent integration of all the local government headquarters and the suburbs in alignment with overall development of the state.' He pointed out that he understood perfectly the import of branding a state with tourism flavour and niceties, adding that most investors come first as tourists before investing in a state or country.'What we have been doing is not a whiff of an instance or brain wave, but a well thought out concept of development being sequentially implemented in alignment with people's aspiration of development and social expectation. Ondo State must be endeared to tourists and investors.'Governor Mimiko said that his government laid emphasis on the provision of infrastructural facilities, beautification of the environment and ensuring that peace and tranquility reign in the state so as to make it appealing and attractive to visitors to come back and stay.'By the time God gives us the opportunity to complete these projects, I am sure Ondo State will be patronised by tourists and investors alike while the projects' completion will stimulate and bring the best out of my people to do something that will improve their standard of living and beautify the environment.'He pointed out that his government has been working to provide answers to the questions which a typical investor will first ask in his quest to realise his mission for the state - such posers are what is the state of infrastructure in the state' How secured will my investment in the state be' Are the people happy and hospitable'Governor Mimiko revealed that it was in line with the tourism-driven aspiration ofhis government that Mare, a cultural'tourism festival wired around mountain climbing contest to attract and lure visitors to the state.'We realised the tremendous power and influence of tourism at mobilising wealth, empowering the people and generating employment. Thus we are building the state tourism profile round culture, environment, people, natural resources and values which we know are inexhaustible.'He pointed out that as an oil producing state 'we should not and we are not basking in this euphoria of being an oil producing state to forget developing other resources that could fetch us sustainable revenue from which the common people will benefit.'Governor Mimiko emphasised, 'I can inform you that our efforts at tickling the tourism consciousness of our people are yielding good fruit. My people are even yearning that Mare should be hosted twice in a year just because of the economic impacts on their trade and lives. And to tell you, we did a post mortem analysis of Mare and we realised that the contest injected quantum amount of money into the system.'This is one of our functions in government, ' creating and inaugurating activities and programmes which are capable of mobilising wealth and empowering the people.'He pointed out that one of the indices which showed the progress made so far in the tourism sector is the rapid growth of the hospitality industry in the state. 'The conducive environment, and peace which exist in the state have engendered a boom in the hospitality industry which has also invariably led to the springing up of hotels and standard guest houses on daily basis with effect on employment generation.'Governor Mimiko who described peace as a lubricator of the economy said that this has paved way for blissful existence of the citizens, hence 'we have constantly ensured the promotion of peace and inauguration of programmes capable of luring heavy traffic of visitors to Ondo State. And as more people visit the state, more money will be injected into the economy, the better for the common people who will benefit most.'He revealed: 'As soon as we are able to fix the infrastructural facilities and complete our ongoing road projects, we are going to reposition and retrofit all the notable tourism sites in the state having in mind private ' public participation with government.'Governor Mimiko said his government would initiate tourism-driven policies which will help the sector to attract investors and expand the scope of the industry for the benefit of the masses.'In as much as we believe that government has no business in being in business, we are going to create more avenues and pave way for the growth of the private sector for ultimate winning of the tourism sector for serious business in the state.'Governor Mimiko revealed that the Dome, (the mega conference and tourism centre), a project initiated shortly after the inauguration of his government which has attracted so much controversy would soon be commissioned for use.'I want to assure all that the Dome, (the mega conferencing and tourism centre) will soon be inaugurated to the glory of God and benefit of the good people of the state. The challenge we have been having has to do with the importation of some of the components of construction. We cannot afford to plant any substandard complex in an effort at rushing to complete a project. This has not been our culture. We are coming out with a super structure, an economic activity centre which every indigene of Ondo State will be proud of.'Governor Mimiko said that the Dome would be the best and the biggest, all encompassing conference centre which will be the darling of events planners and conference packaging outfits in Nigeria, adding that apart from being a conference centre, the Dome is also on its own a tourist site which will also ensure the hosting of the best conference tourism events in the state.The Governor also informed that the Dome will generate employment and business opportunities, adding that over 500 indigenes of the state would be engaged directly at inauguration.'Collectively, we are going to ensure the packaging of the tourism assets of Ondo State so well that we would be tapping and enjoying the benefits of being an oil producing state as well as reaping the dividends of tourism for this generation and generation yet unborn.
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