The Olupole of Ipole-Iloro, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ezekiel Babatola Oladele, JP, has called on community leaders, youths, women, artisans, food vendors and cultural groups to come out en masse and present the best of Ipole-Iloro to the world as the community prepares to host the 2026 World Tourism Day celebration at Arinta Waterfalls.
The celebration, to be held at the breathtaking Arinta Waterfalls, is set to place Ekiti State’s leading natural tourism asset on the global map.
Oba Oladele said the global event is a rare opportunity to showcase the hospitality, culture, cuisine and heritage of Ipole-Iloro and Ekiti State to visitors, tourists and stakeholders from across the country and beyond.
Describing it as a major opportunity to project Ekiti’s tourism potential to a wider audience, the monarch assured visitors of an unforgettable experience.
According to Oba Oladele, visitors should expect a rich cultural showcase featuring:
– Traditional performances and heritage displays
– Local arts and crafts exhibition
– Indigenous cuisine and culinary delights
– A special Pounded Yam Arena to showcase the hospitality and food identity of Ipole-Iloro and Ekiti State
The monarch noted that this year’s World Tourism Day theme — “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”* — is perfectly aligned with the future of Arinta Waterfalls.
He said modern tourism thrives on digital visibility — online mapping, photography, videography, social media, digital storytelling and artificial intelligence — all of which will be deployed to promote Arinta to the world.
“The photographs, videos, media reports and digital content from this event will continue to promote Arinta long after the celebration,” he said.
“Ipole-Iloro is ready. Arinta is ready. Our culture is ready. Our food is ready. Our people are ready to welcome the world,” the monarch declared.
The World Tourism Day celebration at Arinta Waterfalls is expected to bring together tourism and hospitality operators, digital innovators, students, media practitioners, content creators, youth entrepreneurs, traditional institutions and government stakeholders.
The programme will be a practical fusion of tourism, culture, cuisine, technology and destination marketing — demonstrating how digital innovation can strengthen existing tourism assets and stimulate local economic growth.