Ondo State Government has said it has positioned the state to effectively harness its gains in tourism, to boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
It said part of the moves was to ensure it increased what it termed Diaspora Direct Investment in the state.
Commissioner for Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations Boye Ologbese, speaking in Akure after a meeting, said part of the plans was to construct the Diaspora Estate so that those in the diaspora would live in the state as if they were in abroad.
Ologbese said MDAs in the state had been tasked to work in collaboration to change the narrative of the state from a civil servants’ status to a business driven state through tourism and other investments
He said the proposed ‘Diaspora Estate’ would boost the hospitality industry as well as create wealth.
He said the synergy was to create business through tourism, as it was operated in Dubai and the United Kingdom.
Ologbese said: “The role of Ministry of Culture and Tourism cannot be underplayed in this regard. We will embrace Public Private Partnerships to ensure realisation of the proposed ‘Diaspora Estate’.
“We have a lot of our sons and daughters abroad who want to come home and relax during their holidays in Akure, but have accommodation challenge. The Diaspora Estate is consequently designed to afford them a serene residence with adequate and relevant facilities where they can relax and have fun on visitation to their home state.”
Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Wale Akinlosotu said the target of the Direct Diaspora Investment would be achieved through adequate promotion of culture and tourism potential of the state.