My Vision for the Tourism Industry
My Vision for the tourism industry in Akwa Ibom State is to develop it in a
sustainable manner as a critical source of revenue and employment generation as
well as wealth creation. According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO),
tourism industry generated $476 billion in the year 2000. I strongly believe
that if well developed, Akwa Ibom State will have a fair share of this. With all
the planned infrastructure in place: an airport, a seaport and rail lines, the
State will be accessible and will definitely be a tourism destination in the
sub- region. But the greatest potential is the world-class ocean beach at Ibeno
and Eastern Obolo.
As Governor, I will upgrade to international standard, the natural beaches that
abound in our 129 kilometer coastlines along the Atlantic at Oron, Ibeno, Ibaka
and Ikot Abasi. Heritage sites and monuments will be conserved and
commercialized. With the coming on stream of our Ibom 5-Star Hotel and golf
course, we will as a deliberate policy encourage private investors to provide
world-class hotels and hospitality outlets.
To complement our tourism drive, our indigenous cultural festivals, games and
carnivals will be upgraded to international standard to attract tourists world
wide. To show case our tourism potentials, we will embark on aggressive market
intelligence and promotion, human capital resource development and proper
documentation and backing of our tourism potentials.
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Akwa Ibom International Airport opened the world and the sky to Akwa Ibom from
Nov 26, 2009 with complementary facilities such as MRO and cargo handling |
Tropicana entertainment complex will help us develop tourism in a sustainable
manner as a critical source of revenue and employment generation as well as
wealth creation |
One lane of one of our many intra city roads built to international standards
for comfort of the class of international citizens the state is now being opened
to |
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.:: Articles |
| Jun, 7 2009: Open Letter To Your Excellency Re: “Rethink Tropicana Project”...more | | Jun, 6 2009: Attah`s Vexatious Letter TO Akpabio...more | | Oct, 10 2008: How we`re attracting investments to Akwa Ibom, by Gov Akpabio ...more | | Oct, 8 2008: A`Ibom Flays Critics of N33bn Entertainment Project...more | | Oct, 5 2008: Nigeria: Tropicana Composite Entertainment Center...more |
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Tourism Development Projects
- New world class entertainment centre
- Existing 5-star hotel to be upgraded to 350 rooms
- New museum to showcase our cultural heritage
One major investment aimed at improving the tourism index of the state is the
Le’ Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort. The resort houses imposing structures
and facilities of international standard, situated on a plateau surrounded by
crush green vegetation near a seafront, its frontage opens to a scintillating 18
hole golf course which has hosted international golfers like Nancy Lopez, the
golf course has also hosted amateur and national golf competitions sponsored by
one of Nigeria’s GSM companies, MTN.
Development of marine area, building a galaria, and a cinema theatre among
others to make the state totally independent economically as well as a major
tourism state.
The golf course abuts into the marines with one of the tees perched at the brink
of the Nwaniba River. The water front is developed for sporting and leisure
activities like boat cruise, surfing, wildlife, hunting, gaming and health spa.
The magnificent edifice that sprawls on a 72 – hectare of land has space for
development of arts and craft village. The hotel is managed by Le’Meridien, an
international management group.
Abundant tourism potentials of the state are to be exploited. New sand beaches
are to be developed along with structures that will serve as tourist
attractions. One of such structures is the Ibeno Beach which is to take off
soon.
In the last one year, the government of Chief Godswill Akpabio has evolved
strategies that would raise the tourism index in the state, which include:
raising tourism infrastructure and facilities to a level that would meet
competition in the global tourism events that would encourage influx of
tourists, undertaking branding of the unique tourism products in the state and
partnering with private investors to invest in the state. One of such
partnership would soon see the construction of a tourism and film gallery in
Uyo. Right now the union amusement and leisure park has reached the completion
stage. There exist vast profitable opportunities that can attract foreign
investors.
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Governor Akpabio is an active supporter and promoter of our traditional culture
as shown in this photo of appreciation for a dance troupe that honoured
invitation to entertain the state at the 21st Anniversary celebrations |
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Ibeno beach, one of the many natural beaches along our 129Km coastlines along
the Atlantic undergoing upgrade to international standard |
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Our recharged indigenous cultural festivals are receiving government support for
upgrade to international standard to attract tourists
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Beautiful banquet hall of the prestigious Ibom Le'Meridien hotel that Gov.
Akpabio has worked tirelessly to raise its standards |
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