Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatubosun, has revealed that hospitality investments in the state have grown significantly, rising from 1,328 in 2019 to 12,128 by December 2024 under the current administration.
According to punchng, Olatunbosun, who also announced that about 18,459 visitors come into the state every day as against 1,604 recorded before the advent of the administration in 2019, stated this during the ongoing Omituntun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Briefing, held at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital.
He explained that the commitment of Governor Seyi Makinde to developing the tourism sector and ensuring that it forms a key component of his economic expansion agenda has yielded many positive results in the last two years.
The commissioner pointed out that with the government putting in place key tourism enablers such as road infrastructure, security and the political will, as well as the creation of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2023, the state has witnessed a tremendous turnaround in the tourism sector.
Olatunbosun said, “The turnaround has also led to increased tourist inflow as well as a massive boost in the hospitality sector. While the state had a record of 1,328 hospitality businesses as of May 29, 2019, the number of investments in hospitality businesses increased to 12,128 by December 2024.
“About 18,459 visitors come into the state daily, as against 1,604 recorded before the advent of the administration in 2019.
“The number of hospitality businesses including hotels (945), night clubs (78), event centres (143), eateries and restaurants (66) and tour agencies (96) increased by 10,800 as of December 2024. These are because of the governor’s decision to put in place key success indicators.”
He stressed that the conducive environment created by the government has also succeeded in attracting private investors in the culture and tourism sector, including the Kunle Afolayan Film Village in Komu and the AFRICHATTA Film Village in Oyo, respectively.
The commissioner, therefore, called on other investors to come into the state.
Olatunbosun, therefore, commended Governor Makinde’s efforts in promoting culture, tourism and preserving the Yoruba traditional heritages in the state.
