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In the last one decade, the Nigerian government has taken giant strides in the development of the country into one of the tourist destinations of the continent, in recognition of the fact that tourism has become a major source of foreign exchange earning for many countries.

The Federal Government under President Olusegun Obasanjo came up with the idea of a national tourism master plan, which has since been completed and awaits implementation. One of the states geared towards benefitting from that tourism master plan is Akwa Ibom.

Akwa Ibom State is said to be among those states in Nigeria that are richly endowed with tourism potentials, merely waiting to be harnessed for huge socioeconomic gains. Blessed with a beautiful topography, coastal lines and water fronts that are readily adapted and managed to meet international tourist demands, analysts believe that the abundant potential in the state can turn it into a valued tourist destination in the country.

The state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, must have captured that hidden future when he decided that his administration would determinedly pursue, as a policy thrust, making the state a preferred destination for tourists.
“I strongly believe that if well developed, Akwa Ibom State will have a fair share of this,” the governor said of his vision for the sector. “With the entire planned infrastructure in place – an airport, a seaport and rail lines – the state will be accessible and definitely be a preferred tourism destination in the sub-region.”

Only recently, the state government, in partnership with private sector players, started the construction of a multi-million naira Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre.

The resort houses imposing structures and facilities of international standard, situated on a plateau surrounded by lush green vegetation near a seafront. Its frontage opens to a scintillating 18-hole golf course that has hosted international golfers like Nancy Lopez. It has also hosted amateur and national golf competitions sponsored by one of Nigeria’s major GSM companies, MTN.

Development of the marine area and the building a galleria and a cinema theatre, among others, are other projects being implemented to make the state economically self-reliant 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 waterfront is developed for sporting and leisure activities like boat cruises, surfing, wildlife hunting, gaming and a health spa.

The magnificent edifice that sprawls on 72 hectares of land has space for the development of an arts and craft village. The hotel is managed by Le Meridien, an international management group.
Chief Akpabio said, “Tropicana Entertainment Complex will help us develop tourism in a sustainable manner, as a critical source of revenue, employment generation, and wealth creation.”
Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre was conceived, through the vision of Chief Akpabio, to impact positively on the socioeconomic lives of the people of the state.Online Marketing Services Provider.

The centre, which will boost the structural landscape of the state, was created after the concept of Sun City of South Africa and the famous Disney Land in Orlando, Florida, USA.

It is planned to create job opportunities for thousands of unemployed youths of the State. The centre has the following facilities: a shopping mall with 59 standard shops, and two bank service corridors; a Cineplex that houses six screens, cinema halls with a one thousand and thirty (1,030) seating capacity each; an ultra modern convention centre with a multi-floor capacity for five thousand (5,000) persons; a 15-storey hotel with two 250 rooms, and a theme park with various dry and wet rides/attractions, covering an area of three hectares.

The government’s investment in these projects is intended to further boost tourism, leisure, recreation and business in the state, in line with the emerging global trend. Direct Marketing Services Provider.

The Akpabio administration’s choice of the culture and tourism sector for this massive investment is justifiable.

Public opinion supports the view that if the sector is to be given a boost in the state, then, as a starting point, the provision of international-standard hotels would be of the essence.

Beginning with only one five-star hotel, the Le Meridian Hotel and Golf Resort, in the recent past, today the state today there are over 80 standard hotels in Uyo, the state capital, in direct response to the government’s provision of the enabling environment for private ownership of hotels. Media Marketing Agency.