… Births Araromi Tropicana Beach Resort, Creates Another YATE Experience.
“It’s new, it’s unique and experimentally novel, says a tourism expert and Vice President of The Institute For Tourism Professionals In Nigeria (ITPN SouthWest) Otunba Ayo Olumoko, who commented immediately after he heard about the news.
A long forgotten coastline that stretches all the way from Lagos to Araromi and thereafter, a tourist could journey on through the rural town of Araromi, to the heart of Ondo city. Akinboboye is by this tourism move, linking up global economy with these several villages whose subsistence has primarily been a fishing livelihood for centuries.
The Maiden Coastline expedition to Araromi took place few days ago, after the collection of the certificate of occupancy of the over 70 acres of the beach front from the Ondo state government for tourism development by Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, who is not new to resort development of this gigantic nature.
With a flagship La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort at Ikegun in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye has spread his tentacles to: La Campagne Tropicana Forest Hills And Cave Resort in Ondo Town, duplicating same in Kogi state, Nasarawa state, Ghana, Cote d’ voire and then in the Carribeans, Antigua and Barbuda.
Characteristically Akinboboye, the Maiden journey to the new site of Araromi Tropicana Beach Resort from La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort in Lekki was laced with fun and excitement.
The journey was intriguing, as we admired the endless body of massive water, travelling for over 45 minutes on quad bikes along the coastline, admiring the huge waves rushing with intense speed and splashing its rich deposit of salt water on the journey pathway!
The rich sand dunes on the whole pathway smiling and keeping us company as we rode on. Rich sand dunes that could be likened to that of the sand dunes of North African desert!
But here we all were, fired with renewed adrenaline boosted by adventure-tourism, ready to discover new frontier, discover new land, discover the new Araromi beach that Otunba Wanle Akinboboye is birthing in Ondo, and finally discover the new transportation hub and connection he is about to create and revolutionise on the Lagos-Ondo coastline.
And in the expedition, we had royalty, a traditional ruler in Eniong Abatim in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State, Queen Aruk 11, Obonganwan Marie Ikpeme Erete.
Her Royal Highness, had much earlier, flown in from the United Kingdom to Calabar, before arriving La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, in order to be a part of this Maiden edition to Ondo state, Araromi beach resort.
Youths, male and female were all ready for a full scale Youth African Tourism Expedition, a YATE Experience. And the quad bikes, the kawasaki bikes were also ready. And so were Atunda Models.
Otunba Wanle Akinboboye also known as the ‘builder,’ led the way as the assemblage of quad bikes took off from La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort to the new site for Araromi Tropicana Forest, Beach Resort.
Intermittently, the convoy stopped and Otunba Wanle Akinboboye who obviously had personally been on this expedition path on other occasions, schooled the whole party on some tourism or cultural significance of the locations or the history or historical importance of the landmark in that particular area.
There were relics of abandoned fishing boats to see along the journey, probably belonging to different centuries before now. And for the first time ever, I saw coconut trees growing in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean! Behold, I’m still waiting for an explanation!!
There were also some stop overs at YATE designated rest places, where youths on tourism expedition from La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort to the new Araromi Forest, Beach Resort, could stop, sit for a while to refresh their bodies with food and drinks.
The first resting place is the ‘Amala joint’ while the second rest place is the ‘iyan joint.’ For people who love ‘oyinbo’ snacks, abundant package awaited them at Araromi Tropicana Forest, Beach Resort.
As we journeyed, the fishing communities rushed out to the coastline, upon hearing the unusual sounds of machinery and noise made by quad bikes, in an usually serene environment, to witness what was amiss. Upon seeing our happy mien and the friendly disposition of our convoy, they rested their nerves and waved to us, making us instant celebrities.
The journey was refreshing, no traffic delays except where and when we chose to rest for tourism knowledge and delight. The air was peaceful and the atmosphere romantic but no bride in sight! And the view of the Atlantic Ocean being side by side with the Lagoon was rhapsonic!
Finally, here we were at Araromi Forest, Beach Resort, aptly described by Her Royal Majesty, Queen Aruk 11, Obonganwan Marie Ikpeme Erete, as “the virgin land, ready to sprout creative tourism!”
Here, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye laid and stretched the landmark, and birth Araromi Forest, Beach Resort the new beach front that has today created a transport hub from Lagos to Ondo state and vice versa through the coastline.
“Let me share with you a few of the benefits that this expedition and the establishment of this new Araromi Forest Beach Resort will bring,” said Otunba Wanle Akinboboye.
* And the fishing canoes of Araromi at Sunset
“This is going to create an economy that these fishing communities can tap into to reach global economy. There will be some people in the Diaspora who may be interested in modern fishing business and could want to partner with these people. With the opening of transportation on this shoreline, new boats, Quad bikes will come into place and transportation means employment and earning. These communities will grow due to more employment of staff at the resort, consumption will grow and more money will circulate here. The resort itself is being positioned to receive cruise ships from the Diaspora, bringing back our lost brothers and sisters whose ancestors left in slave ships. When they return to stay at this resort, they will be spending dollars, and these fishing communities will not remain the same again. Some of the children here will find favour in the eyes of these returnees and some of them may find schools or new homes abroad through the returnees from the Diaspora. The benefits are endless,” added Otunba Wanle Akinboboye.
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