DISCOVER BAYELSA’S STATE 180KM OF UNINTERRUPTED COASTLINE.

The State Government has placed tourism and hospitality development as one of its critical solutions to non-oil driven economic growth, improving internally generated revenue and aiding socio economic development.  Thus, the Government is seeking to bring in investors to bridge any deficit.  HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN BAYELSAThere are many tourist attractions in Bayelsa State. There are two museums in Nembe, namely Olodi Museum and Mangrove Museum. They are stocked with artifacts dating back to hundreds of years. An Oil Museum has been proposed by the Federal Government for Oloibiri in Ogbia Local Government Area to commemorate the first striking of oil in commercial quantity in Nigeria in 1956.The museum when established will serve as a center of excellence in petroleum history, entertainment and learning.

At Twon-Brass in Brass Local Government Area, there are the Commonwealth Graves of British soldiers who died in the Nembe-British War of 1895 (otherwise know as the Akassa war). In nearby Akassa, there is the Slaves Transit Camp. There is a War Boat in Aleibiri, which is a tourist wonder, Manila and Bronze heads were discover in a forest in Opume in Ogbia Local Government Area.  The beautiful Atlantic Ocean beaches at Twon-Brass, Okpoama, Olodiama, Koluama, Sangana and other at Odi, Kaiama, Nembe and the evergreen expanse of mangrove lands in the deep south of the State are also of great exotic and tourist value.

There are however few quality hotels in the State and almost no hospitality industry, bridging the way for substantial returns for pioneer investors.
 KEY OPPORTUNITIES

  • Eco- Tourism
  • Cultural Tourism
  • Consulting for Hospitality and Tourism strategy
  • Operator selection, standardization and upgrading of existing hotels
  • Business, Medical and Educational Tourism Development
  • Development of Theme Parks, Resorts, and Casinos
  • Development of Entertainment Centres and shopping Arcades 

ITEMIZED KEY  OPPORTUNITIES:

  1. REGENERATION OF TOURIST MUSEUMS AND MONUMENTS:
  • The White Graveyard at Twon-Brass in Brass LGA.
  • The Slave Tunnel at Akassa in Brass LGA – One of the relics of the heinous slave trade in Bayelsa State situated at Ogbokiri, Akassa, stands grim-looking houses where slaves were chained as they awaited shipment to the Americas.
  • Olodi Museum at Ogbolomabiri in Nembe LGA.
  • The Mangrove Museum at Nembe in Nembe LGA.
  • Ogidigan Deity at Bassambiri in Nembe LGA.
  • King Ockiya’s Mausoleum at Ogbolomabiri in Nembe LGA.
  • Late Chief Christopher Iwowari’s Monument at Bassambiri in Nembe LGA.
  • Bronze Heads at Opume in Ogbia LGA.
  • The proposed National Oil Museum at Oloibiri in Ogbia LGA, where crude oil was first struck in commercial quantity in Nigeria in 1956.
  • Isaac Boro Memorial Monument at Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA.
  1. REGENERATION OF OTHER EXISTING TOURIST SITES:
  • The historic Akassa Light House in Brass Local Government Area – Reputed to be the tallest lighthouse in West Africa, the house stands approximately 60m tall. Originally built in 1910 but relocated to its present site in 1912.  Its purpose was to help ships coming into the inland sea ports navigate their way through shallow waters.  The lighting system was facilitated by solar energy.
  • The Okpoama Beach in Brass Local Government Area
  • The Koluama Holiday Resort in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area
  • Lake Efi at Sabagreia in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area
  • Ogori ba Uge Love Boat at Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area
  • Ogori ba Uge Beach Carnival at Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area
  • Famgbe Beach Carnival in Yenagoa Local Government Area
  • The Ossiama Fish Lake in Sagbama Local Government Area
  • The Amasinghan Love Boat of Aleibiri in Ekeremor Local Government Area
  • The Agricultural Palm Beach at Ekeremor in Ekeremor Local Government Area
  • The Agge Palm Beach in Ekeremor Local Government Area.
  1. DEVELOPMENT OF ECO-TOURISM:

The State commits to sustainable tourism, referring to tourism that is carried out in relatively undisturbed natural areas (a concept that covers a wide spectrum, from pristine nature to more or less degraded habitat) and that serves as a tool for the conservation of and sustainable development of local communities.  Government is willing to make concerted efforts to transform the multiple Rivers, Streams, Beaches and mangrove swamp of Bayelsa State into tourism sites.

  1. DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL TOURISM:

Within the context of increasing interest in enriching and authentic travel experiences, cultural tourism is growing in popularity.

  1. DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN THEME PARKS, HOTELS, ENTERNTAINMENT CENTRES AND SHOPPING ARCADES:

The State Government is also very interested in the transformation of the State Capital into a business and tourism hub through the provision of world standard entertainment and hospitality infrastructure, services and opportunities.  This is a critical area of investment and investor attraction with potential for huge returns on investment. 

COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY:

Discover Bayelsa’s State 180km of uninterrupted coastline, teeming with sandy unspoilt beaches. Discover something for everybody; historical sites, dense mangroves, ancient villages, incredible lakes, and even enchanting wildlife.

Some of the lakes include Lake Efi, a natural lake located in Sabagreia in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. It is where the popular fishing festival, Lake-Efi Fishing festival takes place. In Amassoma there is the Seigben Ogugu Lake which is 3km long and 500m in width with a peculiar curving course. It is the site for the popular Seigban Ogugu Fishing and Feasting Festival, itself a popular tourist attraction. 

INVESTMENT POTENTIALS IN TOURISM

The diverse potentials for tourism development in Bayelsa presents very viable investment opportunities in the sector.  The fresh water and marine sand beaches are grossly underutilized; so are the cultural heritage. The investment potentials in tourism are therefore in:

  • The development and proper marketing of the Eco-tourism potentials and rich cultural heritage in the state.

Bayelsa state welcomes private participation to make her a tourist destination choice in Nigeria and the world at large in the following key areas:

  1. Development & Management of Beaches and Riviera

The major fresh water beaches along the River Nun can be developed for increased beach side summer activities, where facilities could be created for boat rides, recreational fishing, beach parties and relaxation in a natural environment.

Similarly, the long coastal line which provides for amazing marine sand beaches can be more resourcefully utilized. The major marine beaches can be developed at the open and inland beaches in the Okpoama-Twon Brass-Akassa-Koluama axis. International class holiday resorts and conference centres could also be developed by the seaside.

With the anticipation of heightening activities in the ol and gas industry in Brass area, these beaches would become beehives of recreational activities.

Existing opportunities for air-lifting of people in and out of the area through the air strip and helipads presently operated by oil companies is an added advantage in this regard.

  1. Development of Adventure Parks

The sand bank islands on the River Nun can be developed into “Floating Adventure Parks” for leisure and adventure, where tourist could engage in boat rides, fish and also experience nature in the surrounding evergreen riverside vegetation, hovering aquatic birds and the gentle course of the Nun. The construction and operation of these parks would be properly designed to beat the effect of the seasonal flooding when the river swells up between the months of April and August every year.

  1. The Mangrove Creek Boar Ride Adventure

A major tourist adventure boat ride programme can be developed to offer tourists an opportunity to experience the meandering and criss-crossing creeks of the Niger Delta, with the radiance of the mangrove and the serenity of nature, in a tropical rainforest environment. The could form part of a holistic ecotourism programme

  1. Development and Management of Museums

The various sites of tourist interest in the state can be further developed and managed for economically rewarding tourism. This can be done by developing appropriate museums or parks around them for cultural exhibitions, excursions, recreation, and site-related activities. The following sites and antiquities may be considered for this:

  • The forest location of the Opume Bronze Heads (Museum).
  • The Isaac Boro Memorial Monument (Recreation Park and Research Library of the Niger Delta History)
  • The Oloibiri Oil Well (Museum of Oil History)
  • The Mausoleums (OKPU) and historical sites of the ancient Nembe Kingdom (Comprehensive Museum Project).
  • The Slave transit camp (International Museum of Slave History).
  • The White Graveyard (Museum of Colonial History).
  1. Marketing of Cultural Festivals

The cultural heritage of Bayelsa can be marketed both within the country and internationally. An investment in a holistic programme to project and market the unique dances and festivals in the State would draw tourists from all over the world to Bayelsa. This would not just bring economic gains to the investor, but it would also impact positively on the individual and general economic indices of Bayelsans, in particular, and Nigeria as a whole.

  1. Sea-side Hotels

Given the absence of a 4 or 5 star hotel in Bayelsa, the hospitality industry is almost at its virgin state despite the great demand for decent accommodation and relaxation centers. In Yenagoa, with over 69 registered hotels/guest houses, there are however few decent accommodation for tourists. The beach area in Yenagoa provides an alluring spot for an international standard hotel by the side of the Nun River. Also, in Brass Island, with the rising activities in the oil industry even as the Nigerian LNG is about establishing in the area, coupled with great tourism potentials and commercial activities, a 5-star hotel investment is needed. Investors may open up discussions with the state Government for the development of hotels of international standards.

  1. Development of Film & Entertainment Industry

The scenic beauty of Bayelsa conjured by the alluring creeks and tropical rainforests, including the mangrove forests, would arouse the interest of investors in the entertainment industry to develop a film/entertainment village. Government is currently interested in this area of tourism development.
STRATEGIES FOR TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY DEVELOPMENT

  1. Adoption of a PPP Model – The Government recognises that large-scale investments in the infrastructure sector will have significant catalytic effects in generating economic growth, new revenue streams through tourism, hospitality, increased business activity, taxation and employment. The Government is willing to invest public money in these projects if it is necessary to attract additional investments to the state. To support these investments the government has established a clear legal framework for PPPs that will guide creation of such agreements.
  2. Harness Local Resources – the new pipelines of the Gbaran-Ubie Integrated Oil and Gas project, when complete, will deliver gas to generate power in the Niger Delta- supporting development in the region.
  3. Integrated development of support infrastructure and tourist products.
  4. Creation and promotion of select tourist product.

INVESTMENT MODELS SOUGHT:

Government is open to discussions on any of the following investment models:

  1. State-owned/Private Management: The State continues to own the assets but contracts out the management to a private company, with limited subsidy required from the State and freedom from political influences.
  2. Private investment/Joint Venture: The State and a private company jointly own the assets and also drive the management of the venture.
  3. Private investment/Privatization: The State Government sells off the assets of the company to a private company and manages the process of privatization.

INCENTIVES

  1. Guaranteed Access to adequate and efficient gas supply to provide power to all sectors – The Gbaran-Ubie Integrated Oil and Gas project, one of the many important gas projects in the Niger Delta, attained the gas design capacity of one billion standard cubic of gas per day (bscf/day) on February 5, 2011.   When complete, new pipelines will deliver gas to generate power in the Niger Delta- supporting development in the region. 
  2. Formalisation of the Registration of Land- Land ownership in Bayelsa is mainly traditional, but the government is undertaking a detailed Global Information Systems mapping of landholdings in 2010 and this will facilitate a comprehensive program of land titling to register all land. The government is also undertaking land appropriation for consolidation into commercial farming areas. While the Government has and periodically exercises the right to allocate land, it will rely in many cases on private sector investors to compensate the occupants with customary right of occupation. The government also expects investors to constructively and positively engage with the local communities e.g. by hiring from the community, developing out-grower programs that link small scale farmers with processing and markets, spending a proportion of revenues on community development, etc.
  3. Improve rural infrastructure – The average person in Bayelsa has to travel 40 kilometres to Yenagoa, by road, boats or otherwise. However, the Government has committed to building 3 new senatorial roads connecting Yenagoa with the districts, and an airport and port.
  4. Electrical Infrastructure – where feasible.
  5. Investor One Stop Shop- Providing support services including business registration, assistance with permits required for the establishment and operations of the business, immigration, property acquisition.
  6. Waiver of Government fees for investment agreements.
  7. Ease in obtaining Certificate of Occupancy
  8. Infrastructure support, where needed.
  9. Data support for feasibility studies
  10. Other incentives on a case by case basis 

If you think Africa, Think Nigeria,

If you think Nigeria, think Bayels