International Monument Day: curator calls for sustainable tourism conservation
NAN-H-60
Heritage
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, April 19, 2017 (NAN) The Curator, National Museum of Unity, Ibadan, Dr Amos Olorunnipa on Wednesday stressed the need for a sustainable tourism conservation in the country.
Olorunnipa made the call at the International Day for Monuments and Sites organiSed by the museum with the theme ‘Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism’.
The curator said cultural tourism fostered peaceful co-existence and the currency of cultural exchange and tourism.
He emphasised that sustainable tourism if adequately planned would empower communities, reinforce their sense of place, self worth and identities.
Olorunnipa stressed the need to encourage local communities, individuals to consider the importance of cultural heritage to their lives.
The curator also called for the conservation and protection of historic places, spaces, recovery, reinstatement and training in heritage skills.
He equally called for the promotion and marketing of Igbo-Ora community, Oyo state-referred to as the ‘City of Twins’ heritage site.
“We should also bring tourists, visitors and local communities into direct contact with each other, thereby sharing cultural practices in restaurants, hotels and public transports.
“Through this we shall be able to develop cultural products that visitors will buy, through this the economy, communities will be empowered.
“The inestimable features of these cultural sites call for the necessity that the heritage property be protected and maintained for incoming generations,” he said.
Also speaking, the Bale of Eko-Tedo, Ibadan, Chief Taye Ayorinde said tourism in the country was in comatose and needs to be reawakened.
Ayorinde stressed the need to encourage the attitude of nationalism through culture, adding that visiting museum is a touristic aspect which the country is losing very fast.
He urged the museum stakeholders to gather more items of cultural heritage from different parts of the country for cultural exhibitions.
Delivering lecture on the theme, Dr Raphael Alabi from Department of Archeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan, said cultural heritage was indispensable in tourism development.
Alabi stressed the need for the government to establish and implement laws governing protection and preservation of heritage in the country.
“Everybody should play a role in heritage preservation for sustainable tourism development and generation to come; monument, sites should be preserved even in times of war,” he said.
The dignitaries at the event include the Oyo state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun; the highlight included Ewi poetry and cultural displays. (NAN)
CC/EAL
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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi