Mr Fidelis Ugbo, the Labour Party's (LP) governorship
candidate in Cross River, has promised to exploit the
tourism potential of the state to create jobs for youths, if
elected.
Ugbo, who is the immediate past Secretary of National
Planning Commission, made the promise while addressing
supporters of the party in Calabar on Wednesday.
He said Cross River was blessed with enormous tourism
potentials, adding that such resources needed to be
harnessed for the growth of the state.
"Cross River is widely known for its tourism and hospitality,
we need to improve on this sector in order to create jobs for
our teeming unemployed youths and engage them in
meaningful activities.
"Tourism is not carnival; we need to add value and culture
to promote the tourism sector in the state.
"If I win the governorship polls, my administration will work
with stakeholders in the tourism sector to make the state a
world class tourists' destination.
"One good thing about tourism is that it creates jobs. This
ranges from tour guides, hotel staff, coach services,
restaurants, car hire station, sport equipment, rentals and
others," he said.
According to him, if the tourism sector is properly managed,
it will attract tourists into the state, thereby increasing its
revenue profile.
Xtracte from: Daily Indenpendent.
Tuesday, 27 January 2015
OBUDU MOUNTAIN RESORT
base of the hills on which the ranch is located lies
a newly built world-class water park with state-of-
art swimming facilities and water slides for
children, teens and adults.
The hilltop (cattle ranch) is about 11km of winded
road from the base and can be accessed by either
the cable-car or the road. The ranch has
numerous pleasant mountain-area and country-
side views.
Obudu is one of the finest and most magnificent
tourist destinations in the world today. Deep in the
tropical rain forest of Cross River State, presents
an area of idyllic tranquility and an enchanting
scenery.
Indeed, it is a tourist heaven with its inviting
natural endowment to be explored. Obudu has
increasingly become popular amongst tourists,
adventurers and event planners from all around
Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
With over 160 accommodation categories, made
up of standard rooms, executive rooms, huts and
chalets to a presidential apartment, amidst its
extreme eco-tourism potentials, there’s more than
enough space for other activities.
Driving to the resort can be quite exhilarating,
especially the last ten kilometres of winding road
with its 22 bends, including the famous Devil’s
Elbow halfway along.
In 2005 a state-of-the-art cable-car was built with
34 cars, each carrying eight people and covering a
distance of four kilometres up through the clouds
offering inspiring and dramatic vistas of green
rolling hills.
Features
Obudu holds its annual mountain race in
November for more energetic people with a cash
prize attracting competitors from across Nigeria
and internationally.
Although Obudu welcomes visitors all year round;
the much best time to visit is October to February,
when the flowers are in bloom, the sky is clear
and the air is cool. This is ideal weather for
trekking over the high ground and enjoy the
extensive views that stretch out across the
plateau.
This is an African Sun resort, so expect the
comfort and top-class service, which the group is
famous for. Visitors can take the advantage of the
fully equipped gym and floodlit tennis courts
(there is also a squash court and 9-hole golf
course), before relaxing at the terrace restaurant
complete with blazing log fire.
This may be tropical Nigeria, but remember you
are at the top of a mountain!
Cable car
This is the biggest attraction at Obudu and it runs
from the entrance of the resort at the bottom of
the mountain up to the ranch resort at the
summit.
It is claimed to be the world’s longest cable car
system.
Water park
An ideal spot for tourists to take a dip in the cool
and crystal clear waters. Here you experience the
thrill of state-of-the-art water slides, or the
relaxing effects of the Jacuzzi.
African huts
There are 10 each with two apartments which
gives the ranch the look and feel of being in the
Safari.
Becheve Nature Resort
This nature reserve is home to 250 different
species of migratory birds that have been
observed at the ranch at different times
throughout the year.
Tourists can trek on the 60KM canopy walkway
built in the form of a ladder tree house
unhindered, for breathtaking view.
Tourists be amazed at the extraordinary diversity
of canopy life and breathtaking view from such
height.
Other facilities at Obudu Mountain Resort include:
Golf Course, Hotel, Waterfall, Cattle Ranch etc. Extracted from tourism.gov.ng
Monday, 26 January 2015
OLUMO ROCK
Olumo rock, one of the most popular tourist destinations in
Nigeria, West Africa, sits in the ancient city center of
Abeokuta – a name which means “Under the rock”.
Abeokuta was originally inhabited by the egba people who
found refuge at the Olumo rock during inter-tribal wars in
the 19th century. The rock provided sanctuary to the people
as well as a vantage point to monitor the enemy’s advance
leading to eventual triumph in war. The town of Abeokuta
eventually grew as these new settlers spread out from this
location.
Abeokuta is just about an hours drive from the bustling
metropolitan city of Lagos providing convenient access to
an array of hotels, restaurants, clubs, casinos and various
nightlife activities. Lagos is also home to the closest airport
to Abeokuta, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Hotels in Abeokuta within minutes drive from the rock
include Gateway Hotel and Olumo Guest House.
Tourists to Africa definitely need to consider putting Olumo
rock on their travel plans. New renovations completed early
2006 upgraded the infrastructure of the site to include a new
museum, restaurants, water fountain and an elevator that
will provide even the climbing-challenged a wonderful view
of the surrounding city.
The ancient Itoku market where local artisans and traders
enjoy to haggle over price just as much as the customers
like to find a bargain ies just outside the Olumo rock
premises and is a must-see. The market is the center of the
indigenous Abeokuta industry of tie-and-dye, locally known
as adire. Adire crafters, usually women, both old and young
show off their designs in sheds alongside the roads. Behind
these sheds are buildings where many of these crafters live
and work and their parents before them. In places where the
plaster has cracked off the walls, you may see traces of the
mud bricks used in the original construction. The locals are
very friendly and if asked, will often give tourists and visitors
informal tours of the dyeing processes. Other popular items
to watch out for include local beads, bracelets, sculptures
and musical instruments like the sekere and talking drum.
A trip to Olumo rock usually commences with a climb up the
man-made stairs carved into the rock. While this sounds
easy enough, it leaves many breathless and ready to take a
break to rest on the benches under the trees growing from
the rock and enjoy some clean breeze. The journey
continues with climbs on irregularly sized rocks (or ladders
which are now thankfully provided) through a narrow
corridor that leads to the top of the rock. All along the way,
catch sights of carvings in the rock, cowrie-studded statues
and the ancient abode of the priestesses who live in huts on
the rock. And yes, it is not uncommon to catch a sight of
the very aged women who live there and mutter greetings or
blessings as people make their way through.
It is often helpful to enlist the services of a guide who
possess vast knowledge of the history of the rock and the
culture of the people. This makes for an interesting climb as
every twist and turn will reveal a significant story making
the trip a truly memorable one.
On the way back down the rock, the sight of the Ogun river
running like a silver chain amidst a forest of aged red
corrugated roofs bordered by thick green forests which melt
into the horizon is breathtaking.
Extracted from: www.olumorock.com
Nigeria, West Africa, sits in the ancient city center of
Abeokuta – a name which means “Under the rock”.
Abeokuta was originally inhabited by the egba people who
found refuge at the Olumo rock during inter-tribal wars in
the 19th century. The rock provided sanctuary to the people
as well as a vantage point to monitor the enemy’s advance
leading to eventual triumph in war. The town of Abeokuta
eventually grew as these new settlers spread out from this
location.
Abeokuta is just about an hours drive from the bustling
metropolitan city of Lagos providing convenient access to
an array of hotels, restaurants, clubs, casinos and various
nightlife activities. Lagos is also home to the closest airport
to Abeokuta, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Hotels in Abeokuta within minutes drive from the rock
include Gateway Hotel and Olumo Guest House.
Tourists to Africa definitely need to consider putting Olumo
rock on their travel plans. New renovations completed early
2006 upgraded the infrastructure of the site to include a new
museum, restaurants, water fountain and an elevator that
will provide even the climbing-challenged a wonderful view
of the surrounding city.
The ancient Itoku market where local artisans and traders
enjoy to haggle over price just as much as the customers
like to find a bargain ies just outside the Olumo rock
premises and is a must-see. The market is the center of the
indigenous Abeokuta industry of tie-and-dye, locally known
as adire. Adire crafters, usually women, both old and young
show off their designs in sheds alongside the roads. Behind
these sheds are buildings where many of these crafters live
and work and their parents before them. In places where the
plaster has cracked off the walls, you may see traces of the
mud bricks used in the original construction. The locals are
very friendly and if asked, will often give tourists and visitors
informal tours of the dyeing processes. Other popular items
to watch out for include local beads, bracelets, sculptures
and musical instruments like the sekere and talking drum.
A trip to Olumo rock usually commences with a climb up the
man-made stairs carved into the rock. While this sounds
easy enough, it leaves many breathless and ready to take a
break to rest on the benches under the trees growing from
the rock and enjoy some clean breeze. The journey
continues with climbs on irregularly sized rocks (or ladders
which are now thankfully provided) through a narrow
corridor that leads to the top of the rock. All along the way,
catch sights of carvings in the rock, cowrie-studded statues
and the ancient abode of the priestesses who live in huts on
the rock. And yes, it is not uncommon to catch a sight of
the very aged women who live there and mutter greetings or
blessings as people make their way through.
It is often helpful to enlist the services of a guide who
possess vast knowledge of the history of the rock and the
culture of the people. This makes for an interesting climb as
every twist and turn will reveal a significant story making
the trip a truly memorable one.
On the way back down the rock, the sight of the Ogun river
running like a silver chain amidst a forest of aged red
corrugated roofs bordered by thick green forests which melt
into the horizon is breathtaking.
Extracted from: www.olumorock.com
Friday, 16 January 2015
DARK TOURISM SITE
The 9/11 attacks in which two planes flew into the World Trade Centre buildings in New York City, claiming lives of nearly 3,000 people, count as the most notorious modern history attacks in the world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)