By Victor Ogundipe
Ipole-Iloro, host community of the famous Arinta Waterfalls, has declared its readiness to host this year’s World Tourism Day celebration slated for Sunday, September 27, 2026.
The Olupole of Ipole-Iloro, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ezekiel Babatola Oladele, JP, who made the declaration, said the community was delighted that Arinta Waterfalls was chosen as venue for the global event.
Oba Oladele described the choice of Arinta as a major opportunity to project one of Ekiti State’s most important natural tourism assets to the world.
According to the monarch, visitors should expect a rich blend of culture, hospitality and technology, with traditional performances, local arts, heritage displays, indigenous cuisine and a special Pounded Yam Arena designed to showcase the culinary identity of Ipole-Iloro and Ekiti State.
He noted that the theme of this year’s celebration, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” is apt and particularly relevant to Arinta Waterfalls, stressing that modern tourism thrives on digital visibility, online mapping, photography, videography, social media and digital storytelling.
The traditional ruler added that the celebration would provide a practical opportunity to demonstrate how digital tools can be deployed to promote Arinta, improve its visibility and attract more tourists and investors.
He said photographs, videos, media reports and other digital content that would be generated from the event would continue to market the destination long after the celebration.
The monarch therefore called on community leaders, youths, women, artisans, food vendors and cultural groups to support the programme and present the best of Ipole-Iloro to the world.
“Ipole-Iloro is ready. Arinta is ready. Our culture is ready. Our food is ready. Our people are ready to welcome the world,” Oba Oladele declared.
The World Tourism Day celebration at Arinta Waterfalls is expected to attract tourism and hospitality operators, digital innovators, students, media practitioners, content creators, youth entrepreneurs, traditional institutions and government stakeholders.
The event will combine tourism, culture, cuisine, technology and destination promotion to demonstrate how digital innovation can strengthen existing tourism assets and stimulate local economic activities.
