The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs Elizabeth Ogbaga, says that the tourism sector can be a money spinner if properly harnessed.Ogbaga told newsmen in Abakaliki, that the state is endowed with several tourist sites which could enhance its internally generated revenue(IGR).
The commissioner listed the sites to include: the Nkpurukem Cave in Afikpo, Nkpumakpatakpa in Izzi Local Government Area, the Ivo Pottery Site and the Uburu Salt Lake in Ohaozara.
She said the sites were categorized into natural and artificial classes but guaranteed maximum entertainment to tourists.
The commissioner called for the development of the sites by both the state and the organised private sector to enhance their sustainable growth.
She said that the current administration in the state had given the sector its pride of place, thereby, placing it among the state with the greatest tourist potentialities in the country.
Ogbaga said that efforts by the state government to further develop the sites were hampered by the current economic situation across the globe.
“The sector would have been developed beyond this level if not for the current global economic challenges,” she said.
The commissioner urged the residents of the state to attach more value to tourism by visiting tourist centres for recreational and enlightenment purposes.
She also said that when many visitors and tourists patronage the sites; they would create employment opportunities for many unemployed and yield revenue for the state government.
The commissioner appealed to local government councils in the state to join in the identification and development of tourist sites.
She said this would help to shore up the income to be generated by the rural populace.
Ogbaga said she was worried with how foreign cultural traits were beginning to erode the indigenous cultural values.
The commissioner said this had affected the identities of the people.
“There are some mature persons who cannot speak their mother tongues. They dress indecently and display unpleasant mannerisms at the expense of their culture.
“It is also worrisome that many have abandoned their local dishes in preference for junk foods” Ogbaga said.
She said these and others are areas we need to look into as we make efforts to restore and promote our indigenous cultures.