Akwa Ibom tourism receives boost as devt team commences work

Acting chairman, Akwa Ibom state Tourism Board, Hon. Attah O. Attah (middle in traditional attire),  and the Board’s head of administration, Mrs. Boma Edyang (middle with blue top) flanked by members of newly inaugurated Tourism Development Implementation Committee.

Tourism outlook in Akwa Ibom state is brighter than ever following inauguration of Tourism Development Implementation Committee, comprising a team of experts in the industry, to evaluate current level of engagement and draw up a workable document that will fast track the realization of a functional and economically viable tourism sector. 

Members of the committee are Okonofua Usiaholo Anthony as Chairman and Ubong Ekpe as Secretary. Other members of the committee include Regina Udontia Bassey, Idara Ndem and Joseph Utin. 

Its terms of reference include, putting together a workable, purpose-driven, economically viable and environmental friendly Tourism Development Document for Akwa Ibom State, to integrate operators and practitioners in the industry for a result oriented tourism sector in the state. 

Others are, to internalize tourism culture in our people with the hope to preserving our cultural heritage and generate employment for our teeming youths as well as to present a guide that will serve as a road map to developing a functional Tourism Development Master plan. 

Speaking shortly after inaugurating the committee, the acting chairman of  Akwa Ibom State Tourism Board, Hon. Attah  O. Attah, disclosed that “the essence of constituting a committee made up of professionals is to give the state a road map for tourism development”. 

“Government is aware that there are so many tourist sites in the state yet to be developed and for that reason we are not tapping revenue from them that is why we set up this committee to identity such sites and then recommend ways of developing them into revenue yielding ventures”. 

He further stated that the committee has been given about 60 days to complete its job and submit recommendations, after which the Board will make public a white paper on their findings. 

  Also speaking, the Head of Administration, Akwa Ibom State Tourism Board, Mrs. Boma Edyang, revealed that in order to bring all stakeholders in sync with government’s plan for tourism development, the Board took the initiative of inaugurating the committee to assist in producing a master plan towards efficient regulation and revenue generation for government as well as providing enabling environment for stakeholders toward the growth of tourism industry. 

“Other countries are living on the proceeds from tourism while we have a lot of tourism potentials lying untapped in this state but once the committee reports back, the Board will implement such recommendations to develop the industry and generate revenue for the state”, she said. 

  
In his remarks, the Chairman of Tourism Development Implementation Committee,     Okonofua Usiaholo Anthony, stated that the committee will work in tandem with terms of reference given by the Board, assuring that his team will endeavour to deliver within the timeframe. 

“There may be challenges though but since the committee is made up of professionals with wide experience in the industry and since our main objective is to draw a workable road map for development of tourism in the state, such challenges will indeed be to our advantage”. 

The committee secretary, Ubong Ekpe, was enthusiastic that the team is highly resourceful with vast experience in operations of tourism, adding that its recommendations, at the end of the day, will meet contemporary global best practice. 

A member of the committee, Mrs. Regina Udontia Bassey, who is a Director in the  State Tourism Ministry, expressed optimism that with the constitution of such committee, the state is set to reap immense benefits from the rich cultural and historical heritage spread across its nooks and cranny.  

Also present at the inauguration was Aniekan Inyang, the Principal Tourism Officer, Akwa Ibom State Tourism Board.