The Ekiti State Government has called for increased private sector investment in tourism, saying the state has huge potential and a ready market for tourism-related businesses.
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 held at the Arinta Waterfall on Sunday, Ipole-Iloro, said the state was open to investors willing to develop its tourism sector.
The celebration was held with the theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”
Ojo-Lanre said tourism had moved beyond leisure and hotel visits, describing it as an economic sector capable of transforming communities and creating opportunities for young people.
He said the choice of Arinta Waterfall for the celebration was aimed at drawing greater attention to the tourist attraction and exposing its potential to a wider audience.
According to him, Arinta is one of Nigeria’s notable waterfalls and is unique for having seven waterfalls within the site.
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 about visiting tourist sites.
Arinta Waterfall is one of them. We are very open for investment.”
Ojo-Lanre added that the Oyebanji administration was ready to support communities across the state that were prepared to develop their tourism potential, stressing that tourism development remained a priority of the government.
He said the use of digital technology and artificial intelligence would help promote tourist destinations, improve visitor experience and connect local attractions with audiences around the world.
Speaking at the event, the Olupole of Ipole-Iloro Kingdom, Oba Ezekiel Oladele, appealed to the state government to give special attention to the development of Arinta Waterfall into a world-class tourist destination.
Oba Oladele said Arinta had the potential to become one of Nigeria’s leading ecotourism destinations if supported with the necessary infrastructure, professional management, environmental protection and private-sector investment.
He said such development would create jobs for youths, generate income for local communities, attract visitors and boost economic activities in the state.
The traditional ruler also called on investors to partner with the Ekiti State Government and the people of Ipole-Iloro to unlock the potential of the tourist site.
On the theme of the celebration, Oba Oladele said digital technology and artificial intelligence could be deployed to promote Arinta Waterfall globally through virtual tours, online booking systems, digital maps, social media and other smart visitor services.
He, however, stressed the need to balance digital development with the protection of the environment and cultural heritage of the community.
The monarch also called on farmers operating within areas designated for the development and protection of the tourism corridor around Arinta Waterfall to vacate such areas in line with lawful directives and government procedures.
He warned that indiscriminate farming and deforestation could damage the ecosystem and undermine the tourism potential of the area.
Oba Oladele said the development of Arinta Waterfall required collaboration among the state government, Bureau of Tourism, traditional institutions, the Ipole-Iloro community, investors, tourism professionals, environmental experts and development partners.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, said the media had a major role to play in promoting Arinta Waterfall and other tourist attractions in the state.
Babatuyi, who chaired the occasion, said journalists should use their platforms to create greater awareness about the tourism potential of Ekiti and attract visitors and investors to the state.
He said the theme of the celebration was particularly relevant at a time when digital platforms and emerging technologies were changing the way destinations were promoted and experienced globally.
According to him, journalists must take advantage of digital platforms to tell the stories of Ekiti’s tourist attractions, showcase their cultural and natural heritage and draw the attention of people within and outside the country to the opportunities in the sector.
He said sustained media coverage of Arinta Waterfall would help to increase its visibility, while encouraging the government, investors and other stakeholders to pay greater attention to its development.
Babatuyi also urged stakeholders to work together to preserve the natural environment around the waterfall, stressing that the protection of the site was essential to sustaining its tourism value for future generations.
