The Ekiti State Executive Council has taken a decisive and forward looking step by formally approving the implementation of the Ekiti State Tourism Policy alongside the Ekiti State Tourism Development Master Plan for 2025 to 2035, and in doing so, the administration has clearly signalled a determined shift from tourism rhetoric to structured execution.

With this pivotal decision, the government has not only accelerated the transformation of the state’s tourism corridor but has also deliberately positioned Ekiti to compete more confidently as a heritage and nature driven destination within Nigeria, across West Africa and increasingly on the global tourism map. Consequently, industry watchers already interpret the move as a calculated attempt to unlock long dormant value within the state’s cultural and ecological assets.

More significantly, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has, through this coordinated action, disrupted what many analysts have long described as a persistent tourism governance gap in Nigeria.

By simultaneously initiating, producing and securing Executive approval for both a Tourism Policy and a Tourism Development Master Plan in clear sequential order, the administration has, in effect, introduced a governance model that many sub national entities have struggled to achieve.

As a result, Ekiti now operates with a dual document architecture that provides both institutional direction and a practical execution pathway. Importantly, this framework does not merely serve the state alone; rather, it increasingly stands as a potential reference template for structured tourism planning across other sub national jurisdictions.

Equally noteworthy is the depth of global institutional collaboration that shaped the policy framework. For the first time within the United Nations tourism ecosystem, the global body worked directly with a sub national government in the conceptualisation and development of a tourism policy.

Through technical deployments, international benchmarking and professional advisory support, the collaboration significantly elevated the credibility and global alignment of the Ekiti State Tourism Policy.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Development Master Plan for 2025 to 2035 now provides the long horizon roadmap required to systematically unlock Ekiti’s vast but previously under optimised tourism assets.

Specifically, the plan lays out phased infrastructure expansion, targeted investment mobilisation, thematic tourism circuits and enhanced visitor experience systems, and by doing so, it converts broad ambition into measurable delivery pathways.

Furthermore, the blueprint aligns closely with international standards while simultaneously prioritising job creation, local enterprise growth, cultural preservation, environmental stewardship and inclusive prosperity for host communities. In practical terms, the plan deliberately balances economic ambition with sustainability safeguards.

Under the coordination of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, the Master Plan strategically harnesses the state’s rich natural and cultural endowments, including waterfalls, warm springs, mountain formations, heritage corridors, historical relics and eco tourism landscapes. Consequently, Ekiti strengthens its competitive positioning as a destination capable of attracting both leisure and experience driven travellers.

To ensure strong technical rigour and global best practice, the government engaged Red Clay Advisory Services to prepare the Master Plan. Through this engagement, the state secured a forward looking blueprint carefully tailored to Ekiti’s tourism identity, growth ambitions and investment realities.

In parallel, the Tourism Policy Document now provides the governance backbone required to guide regulation, implementation discipline, investment promotion and institutional coordination.

Developed through the Bureau of Tourism Development, the policy establishes the philosophical and regulatory foundation upon which the Master Plan will operate.

Notably, the framework actively promotes eco tourism, cultural tourism, adventure tourism and business tourism while simultaneously outlining clear mechanisms for infrastructure improvement, safety assurance, service quality and niche market expansion.

To strengthen technical depth, Overseas Credit and Private Equity Limited was engaged to craft the policy architecture in line with global compliance expectations.

Moreover, the Tourism Policy functions as the strategic compass that provides clarity, direction and regulatory structure, while the Tourism Development Master Plan serves as the execution engine that converts vision into projects, investments, infrastructure rollouts and measurable socio economic outcomes.

Reacting to the milestone, the Director General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Barrister Wale Ojo Lanre, described the approval as a structural rebirth for tourism governance.

He stressed that the decision firmly moves the sector from aspiration to coordinated execution. He further indicated that the immediate next phase will concentrate on implementation activation, stakeholder alignment, investment drive and institutional delivery systems.

In conclusion, the twin instruments aim to unlock Ekiti’s extensive tourism potential, stimulate employment, energise small and medium scale enterprises, attract both domestic and international visitors and deliver broad based prosperity for residents and investors.

With momentum now building, Ekiti State has clearly fixed its gaze on achieving credible global recognition as a leading eco cultural tourism destination, while additional announcements on policy unveiling, investment forums and rollout milestones are expected in the coming months.