The Director-General, Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, who represented Governor Biodun Oyebanji at the 2026 World Tourism Day celebration on Sunday at Arinta Waterfall, Ipole-Iloro, said the government was ready to work with communities to turn their tourist attractions into economic opportunities.
The celebration, held with the theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” was used to highlight the tourism potential of Arinta Waterfall and the need for greater investment in the sector.
Ojo-Lanre said the government would support towns and communities that were prepared to develop their tourism assets, stressing that such support was part of the administration’s efforts to use tourism to drive economic development.
He said tourism was no longer only about leisure or visiting hotels, but had become an economic sector capable of transforming communities, creating jobs and generating income.
According to him, the choice of Arinta Waterfall for the celebration was deliberate, as it would help draw attention to the attraction and its potential to visitors and investors.
He said Arinta was among Nigeria’s notable waterfalls and was unique for having seven waterfalls within the site.
Ojo-Lanre said Ekiti was open to tourism investment, adding that the state had a ready market for tourism businesses, particularly with the presence of seven universities and their large student populations.
He said, “Ekiti is open for tourism investment and the return on investment is very high because there is demand. We have seven universities here in Ekiti and their students are always enthusiastic to visit tourist sites.
“Arinta Waterfall is one of them. We are very open for investment.”
Ojo-Lanre also said the deployment of digital technology and artificial intelligence would help communities promote their tourist attractions, reach wider audiences and improve visitors’ experiences.
Speaking at the event, the Olupole of Ipole-Iloro Kingdom, Oba Ezekiel Oladele, commended the state government for choosing Arinta Waterfall as the venue for the celebration and appealed for further support for the development of the site.
The monarch said Arinta had the potential to become a leading ecotourism destination in Nigeria if provided with the necessary infrastructure, professional management, environmental protection and private-sector investment.
He said developing the site would create employment opportunities for youths, generate income for the community, attract visitors and boost economic activities in the state.
Oba Oladele urged the government and investors to work with the people of Ipole-Iloro to unlock the full potential of the waterfall.
He also called for the use of digital platforms, virtual tours, online booking systems, digital maps, social media and artificial intelligence to promote Arinta Waterfall to audiences within and outside Nigeria.
The monarch, however, urged stakeholders to ensure that tourism development did not come at the expense of the environment and cultural heritage of the community.
He called on farmers operating within areas designated for the development and protection of the tourism corridor around ArintaWaterfall to vacate such areas in accordance with lawful directives and applicable government procedures.
Oba Oladele warned that indiscriminate farming and deforestation could damage the forest, vegetation and wider ecosystem supporting the waterfall.
