Epe Headlines Tourism, Heritage Potentials To Mark World Tourism Day

The status of Epe local government as a tourism destination in Lagos state will on Monday 27th September 2021 receive a boast as it Headlines tourism and heritage potentials to mark the annual World Tourism Day.

 

Since the 1970s, every September 27th is marked by the United Nations as a global observance day for creating awareness of tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic contributions to tourist destinations and host communities.

 

In recent history, the World Tourism Day has become an occasion to equally x-ray the contributions that the sector makes in attaining the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

 

World Tourism Day is celebrated each year to spread awareness about the importance of tourism and its impact on our society. The day is also celebrated to spread awareness about global challenges outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to underline the efforts the tourism industry can make to achieve sustainable development goals.

 

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation announced the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day as Tourism for Inclusive Growth in a statement published on UNWTO’s website which reads “This is an opportunity to look beyond tourism statistics and acknowledge that, behind every number, there is a person.

 

To observance this year’s World Tourism Day, and to herald the Epe community’s rich cultural tourism destinations and leading products, the Chairman of the local government area, Hon. Surah Olayemi Animashaun, in an exclusive interview with Ekohotblog, declared Epe’s readiness to host the world come Monday 27th September.

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Hon. Animashaun, who is the first female chairman in the history of the Epe division, expressed her optimism that Epe local govenment, at the advent of her administration, would be the most preferred arts, culture, tradition, travel and tourism destination in Lagos state and indeed Nigeria as a whole.

 

The chairman, who was a former Supervisor for Environment & Tourism of Epe Local Government, also said Epe has all it takes to put its travel and tourism potential/assets on the world map.

 

She mentioned some of the tourism and heritage potentials as Eebi, Kilajolu, Okoshi and kayokayo festivals.

 

Others include tourism sites such as; Sungbo eredo, marina waterfront, Epe fish market, Iroko sacred tree, hotels, restaurants, first post office in Nigeria, Oja Ejirin, waterfall to mention but a few.

 

She said, “All the aforementioned tourism potentials are capable of putting Epe into the world map if properly utilised.

 

“I will support and promote the tourism potential of Epe to the world.

 

“One of my administration‘s topmost priorities is the tourism sector, I am ready to reposition the industry to enviable heights.”

 

Highlighting the advantages the event will bring for the Epe community, she said, “the future of Epe and Lagos tourism will be determined by the amount of time, space and resources dedicated to it by every stakeholder involved.

 

“This is one good opportunity for us to get it right and also do everything within our reach to create tourism content out of the event, and look into it both socially and economically in order to create businesses that will benefit the community and state as a whole.”

 

Princess Animashaun, who is set to accommodate the influx of visitors, tourists, investors and government during the tourism event, will unveil the Epe Destination logo, and also unveil chairs for fun-seekers for waterfront hangout, picnic for families, campers, and tourists.

 

In addition, guests will be fete to a grand performance by hunters, cultural dances, mini boat regatta and mini-tour to selected attractions, among other activities.

 

The chairman assured that adequate security measures have been put in place, while the mandatory COVID-19 protocols would strictly be observed during the event.