The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism has led a multi-sector team on a four-day tour to 16 tourism locations in Oyo State.
The team, led by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Oyedele Oyesola; the Conservator of National Park, Sepeteri, Mr. Adeniyi Kareem and other tourism stakeholders, hoped that the sites could generate huge revenue for the state.
The four-day domestic tourism tagged: ‘Know Your State, Enjoy Your State and Feel Your State’, took tourists to some historical sites at the National Park; Igbeti; Sepeteri and Ibadan.
Speaking about the significance of the site visits, Oyesola said the visits were with a view to enhancing Oyo State’s tourism products and carefully harnessing their potential.
He added that Oyo State was endowed with unique integrated culture and heritage as inherited from its forebearers.
Oyo State’s unique cultural identity is known worldwide as evident in many of the tourist sites visited, Oyesola said.
He noted that the hills in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State must be given wide publicity, considering their heights and the amazing views one could experience from that vantage point.
Oyesola said most of the historical sites had ancient stories that accompanied their existence, dating back to the Old Oyo Empire.
He said the tourism sector shared the view of local tour operators that the sites would be awesome for visitors, adding that they could be money-spinning potential.
Adeniyi called for partnership on eco-tourism and its facilities with relevant authorities.
He said the park had facilities that had blended the past with nature, with about six ranges containing historical/archeological sites.
Some sites visited were Ali-Iwo palace, National Museum of Unity, Aleshinloye, Ibadan; Irefin Palace, which belongs to one of the royal families of Ibadan land; Bowers Tower.
Others visited were African Heritage Research Library and Cultural Centre, Adeyipo Village, Ibadan; Old Oyo-Ile in Igbeti; Mejiro cave; Kosomonu hill; Ibu-iya lake; Agbele hill; Iya-Mapo hill and Agbaku cave.