EKITI TOURISM POTENTIALS

Tourism, which is undisputable, the tool for education and national development, is the smokeless industry which moves, feeds, and entertain millions of people around the world, creates wealth and millions of quality jobs, has the environment at the core of its activities and brings people and nations closer together. It is an economic activity that very likely will become one of the leading industries of the world in years to come. One can say when the oil wells are dry, the tourism dollar will be the king.
             Ekiti state is richly blessed with Tourism endowments. Ekiti excels in all facets of Tourism. Education tourism, social cultural tourism, health tourism and of course Alpism. With regards to Education tourism for instance, Ekiti State, as far back as 1864, had the singular and eternal honour of producing the first Nigerian to bag a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D Degree ) qualifying her today to be unarguably regarded as Nigeria's fountain of knowledge. She was Dr. Mojola Agbebi of blessed memory.
                                        THE IKOGOSI WARM SPRING

       Talking about tourism potentials of Ekiti State, the first place that comes to mind is the Ikogosi Warm Spring, lying some 120 miles east of ibadan and 10 miles of Aramoko on the Ilesha - Ado  Ekiti road is the small village called Ikogosi. This village still increasingly continues to enjoy international recognition because of the unique attraction offered by the only river that feeds the town. This spring, capable of supplying 200 gallons of water every minute is more of a centre of attraction to tourists all over the world. The spring has been scientifically tested and found good for drinking and it has since been certified by the bottling corporation of  Nigeria. The therapeutic effects capable of healing diseases like guinea-worm is one of the characteristics of the spring. It has a number of chalets near the spring built by the Baptist missionaries  and a swimming pool for the recreation of tourists who come in search of this wonder nature.
             
               THE AOGBBO NATURAL WARM SPRING
Another site of tourist interest in Ekiti State is  the Aogbo natural warm spring located in Odo-Ayedun Ekiti  in Ikole Local Government Area. The persisting legends about the spring is its power to promote the healthy growth of children. Within living memory, the spring is known to have "disappeared" or burst at the seams in protest against any unfriendly intrusion such as killing the fish in its dam. Yet the spring is another tourism potential source of revenue for those who may be interested in bottling of clean and hygienic spring water.
                                           THE UTA OLUA ROCK

An ancient inselberg  and very significant landscape at the south eastern end of Odo Ayedun Ekiti. It rises to a height of 2,167 feet above sea level and presents one of the most fascinating view point of the countryside. In April of every year, devotees of the rock play with naked fire without harmful effect at the basement of the inselberg. A revival  and elaboration of such annual events will attracts inquisitive tourists  to Ekiti State to see the wonders of nature.
                                                 
                                 FAJUYI MEMORIAL PARK

Ekiti is also a home of Yoruba war heroes of the 19th century. Veterans like General Aduloju of Ado Ekiti, Faboro of Ido Ekiti, Okombo of Oke-Ayedun, General Fajuyi, to mention a few fought for justice and the process of regaining independence for both the state and the country. The Fajuyi Memorial park provides a tourist attraction to the state as children all over the country troops in to have a memorable picnics, site seeings and statue of this great legends.
                                             
                                     CULTURAL FESTIVALS IN EKITI
Ekiti attracts millions of tourist all over the world to have a glance at the rich cultural heritage of the Yorubas and the various ethnic groups in the state. Few of the festivals in Ekiti which are still celebrated till date are Idiroko festival, Ikereje festival, Epa(masquerades), Ijesu (New Yam Festival), Oro Ibeji festival and many others which are not high profiled festivals but are such a unique wonders with each having its characteristics and are celebrated annually.
                                            
                              
HOTELS AND HOLIDAY INN
For the ultimate luxury experience, Ekiti is surely a place to visit. It habors first class hotels across the state. conducive environment, good relaxation bars, halls for various ocassion and many other stuctures for sight seeing. Ekiti is blessed with high profile hotels which are home away from home experience

              
                   HARNESSING  EKITI CULTURAL HERITAGE FOR   NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Accounting for the growth of national development, the early contact of the Yorubas with western education and western civilization made it possible for them to produce the first set of educated elites, the first set of commercial magnates and the first set of politicians in modern Nigeria. The Ekiti sons and daughters are in the fore front amongst those who contributed massively to the growth of the nationalist struggle to achieve independence for the country Nigeria.