A SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF IKOGOSI WARM SPRING AS A TOURIST CENTRE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF EKITI STATE, 1996-2023

Abstract

Tourism is the act and process of spending time away from home in pursuit of recreation, relaxation, and pleasure, while making use of the commercial provision of services. As such, tourism is a product of modern social arrangements, beginning in Western Europe in the 17th century, although it has antecedents in classical antiquity. The impact of tourism toward the development of a town, Local Government, State or even a Country cannot be under estimated and that is why this paper examines the socio-economic impact of Ikogosi Warm Spring as a tourist Centre on the development of Ekiti State. How it has projected the image of the state internationally and how it has generated huge revenue to the coffer of the State. It uses simple historical methodology involving the use of oral interviews and secondary sources. The paper revealed the historical background of the people of Ikogosi Ekiti, impacts of the Warm Spring on them, the socio-economic impact to the development of the State, how it has become a tourist attraction to visitors both within and outside Nigeria and wonders of the spring to the tourists at the visit. It concluded that Ikogosi Warm Spring as a tourist Centre has contributed in no small measure to the development of the State in revenue generation, recreational services, relaxation Centre and brought the State into reckoning among committee of States both within and outside the Country Nigeria.