Harnessing the tourism and cultural potentials in Akwa Ibom State:The challenges before the ministry- BY PRISCILLA CHRISTOPHER

"We are grateful for the leadership of the ministry today because they have mobilized efforts to reposition the tourism sector of the state. The Ita Udo leadership of this ministry deserves commendation in this regard"

The evolution of tour ism and cultural Practices in the state and country at large can be linked to age-long practices and customs which have been transformed into monuments, images and objects immortalizing events, people and places. As generations of people give way to civilization and obscurity of these age-long traditions, the need to preserve those cultures for sake of posterity give birth to modern culture and tourism developments.

Tourism is one of the fastest growing economic activities today because of the platform it creates for foreign exchange. Asides this, it is an activity that contributes to a better understanding of places, people and cultures. Moreso, if given good attention, tourism could contribute immensely to the preservation of the environment if it is planned and implemented in a socially friendly manner.

Since the evolution of tourism and cultural practices, the challenge of harnessing the potentials therein has been enormous and demanding. This is because of the broadness of the sphere it covers regarding the preservation of culture and cultural heritage.

The important roles of the tourism sector as the main instrument in socio-economic development cannot be over emphasized. First, it contributes towards alleviating the major political, social and economic problems that characterize rural areas as well as the development of urban areas. In the area of poverty alleviation, tourism is an important instrument for the creation of employment opportunities for both the educated and the uneducated at all levels of the government and in host communities (communities where tourist attraction sites are found). Likewise, tourism being a catalyst for national and regional development encourages rural-urban infrastructural developments to the credit of the state it is sited.

Alas, the challenge facing the state ministry of culture and tourism is not just harnessing the tourism potentials but identifying and refining tourist centres. Akwa Ibom State is quite lucky to be one of the few states with natural wonders to show off. From the landscapes of Ibiono Ibom to the hills of Uruan, cultural displays of masquerades, new yam and coronation festivals, museums and other man-made wonders including the renown Ibom Le Meridien Hotel and Golf Resort, the State International Airport, the Ibom Tropicana, the E-library amongst others is a proof of a well-studded foundation for the commencement of tourism activities.

Although, some of these tourist centres are not well developed or undergoing construction, the only way to bring them to the apex of cynosure is by developing a well packaged and promoted tourist attraction that would socially and economically develop the host community, state and country to ensure that sustainable development is only visible and possible if the government will be willing to shift a little attention to its development.

As it stands, the tourism potential in the state was fast fading because little attention was being given to it. Much focus has been put on an already existing tourist centre that efforts were not made at developing newer ones. It should be noted that as the state advances towards national and global recognition, the need for the establishment of lots of recreation and amusement centres is great. We are grateful for the leadership of the ministry today because they have mobilized efforts to reposition the tourism sector of the state. The Ita Udo leadership of this ministry deserves commendation in this regard.

The pleasure of tourists’ would be most gratified when they are fed with new innovations which are different from previous and regular sights. The ministry should therefore consider the birth of structures a challenge and a potential which has been left untapped.

Similarly, the museum which serves as a record house for the storage of ancient objects should be rekindled to appeal to people’s interest. It may be argued that museums as an institution and an agency for transmitting cultural heritage are an artificial creation, by reason of the removal of objects from their natural environment into these places. The truth remains that it is the best equipped institution devised by man for the assemblage of cultural objects and their preservation and presentation for the present and future generations. The museum which also serves as a medium for the transfer of artificial character into cultural reality gives the evidence of man’s material outfit as no other institution readily comes to the mind when evidence for material culture is sought. If the museum is this proficient, the ministry should endeavour to re-equip existing ones and construct worthy ones.

To fully harness culture and tourism potentials in the state, the ministry should incorporate dissemination of information, continuous cooperation with the mass media; the travelling publishing press, related agencies as well as the establishment of a unified tourism development that would enable nations across Africa develop tourist sites.

The ministry should also be wary of investors who go into hotel businesses to only make money instead of developing the sector.

To properly harness the state’s tourism potentials, the ministry should conduct a feasibility study on the already existing sites in comparison with untapped potentials of the state in order to arrive at a comprehensive guide on what to do next. This will not only enhance tourist attraction but will also generate revenue and create more employment opportunities.

Moreover, a state with much tourism potentials like Akwa Ibom should constantly train people to appreciate the value of tourism since it is an activity that provide an opportunity for people to interact with nature and environment.