Tourism's Latest Gain
By
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
The administration of Governor Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State commissions a five-star hotel and a Golf Resort to promote tourism in the state
By Tunji Ola
Nigeria's tourism industry last week received a boost with the commissioning of the Le Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort at Nwaniba, in the outskirts of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The multi-million naira magnificent hotel and golf resort which is of international standard, is one of the key projects embarked upon by Obong Victor Attah, the Akwa Ibom State governor.
The new resort in the South-South region of Nigeria is located only 55 minutes drive from the Calabar International Airport and fewer minutes drive from the Ibom International Airport currently under construction. Apart from the lush vegetation and brilliant greenery that characterise the resort, a marine beach waterfront with boating facilities also makes it a visitor's delight.
Attah's decision to build a 5-star hotel and golf resort was informed by the desire to provide one of the international requirements needed to promote the state's strength as a choice investment and tourist destination "that would help to alleviate poverty by creating employment opportunities and a conducive atmosphere in which small and medium scale businesses can thrive." His decision was also fueled by the need to "economically maximise the endowment of the natural beaches that abound in the state."
Justifying the huge monetary investment in the project, Attah said he would rather talk about the opportunity cost rather than the cost. He said he was convinced that the project would yield great financial returns for the state in the shortest possible time. The governor, who said he was proud to be leaving such a legacy behind in the state, said he believes it would also help in bringing positive light to the Niger Delta which has been characterised by restiveness for some time. "I am convinced that this resort here represents the other side of Niger Delta, which is not a world of militants, youth restiveness, but one of peace, serenity and absolute beauty."
Commending the initiative, Iwara Esu, Nigeria's minister of state for culture and tourism said he was convinced that the investment was one that would take "Akwa-Ibom from being out of the way to being in the way." He said he had no doubts that tourists would flood the resort because it can compete with resorts of its kind in other parts of the world. "Attah needs to be given credit for pushing tourism in this region to the limit. This is a laudable project. I think it is a real dividend of democracy that we have seen, and for us in the tourism sector, we are extremely gratified that this hotel and golf resort will be a major complement to the Tinapa project," the minister said. Esu, however, urged the Akwa Ibom State government, especially the incoming government, to make sure the facility is properly maintained so that its benefits can be fully maximised.
Sunday Adewusi, former military administrator of Akwa Ibom State, during the Abacha regime, described the resort as 'fantastic.' He commended the Attah-led administration for the tremendous infrastructural improvement that has taken place in the state in recent years. "I can see a lot of possibilities coming up in this area in the nearest future," Adewusi said.
Eyekpaya Ebiye, also a former military administrator of the state who handed over to Attah, said the five-star hotel and golf course is a gateway, which would bring in lots of foreign participation and investment into the state. He said he believes the state would experience economic boom "in the next two or three years."
Many foreigners, at the commissioning of the new hotel and golf resort also gave their impressions of the place. Tom Maberly, a Briton, said "it looks like it's going to be a spectacularly amazing five-star resort. The environment is exciting and a perfect place for a golf course."
Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen and Nancy Lopez, all world-class top golf players, were flown into the country by the Akwa Ibom State government, to 'baptise' the golf course. Montgomerie, who was Europe's best golfer for seven years and one of the best ten in the world, said, "it's nice to see Governor Attah's dream become a reality. This is a fabulous resort and fabulous facility."
Goosen, a South African, who became the first foreign player to win the U.S masters in 2001 and 2004, and the world's sixth best golfer said, "It's wonderful to come to this part of the world. I am really excited by what I have seen. Tourism is germane to the growth of any economy. Given a few years, this golf course would be one of the best golf courses in Africa. Wonderful hotel, I look forward to coming here to cruise around in the rivers and do some fishing."
Lopez, who has been a professional golfer for more than 20 years and won 48 women professional golf association tournaments, hailed the hospitality and friendliness of the Akwa Ibom people. About the resort, she said: "I think it's a wonderful place that would be really successful."
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