LyncOòduà Digital Magazine

The hospitality industry in Southwest Nigeria is gearing up for a major gathering as the Southwest Hoteliers Association Conference 2026 draws closer, with 96 days to go. The conference is scheduled to hold from April 19th to 22nd, 2026, at the prestigious Midas Hotel & Arena, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. This four-day event will bring together hoteliers, hospitality investors, tourism professionals, policymakers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders from across the Southwest and beyond, under one roof to deliberate on the future of the hospitality and tourism sector. The conference will feature a rich blend of activities including: Conference sessions addressing industry trends, challenges, and opportunities Exhibitions showcasing hospitality products, services, and innovations Tour experiences highlighting Ekiti State’s tourism and cultural assets Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Southwest Hoteliers Association According to the organizers, the 2026 edition is designed to foster col...

  ‎Domestic tourism remains a vital pillar for sustainable tourism development in culturally rich regions such as Yorubaland in South-West Nigeria. Among the various components of the tourism value chain, souvenir production represents a culturally embedded and economically strategic sector that is often undervalued in policy and practice. This article examines souvenir production as a tool for domestic tourism economy development within the context of Yoruba tourism development It explores the economic contributions of indigenous crafts, their role in cultural preservation and identity expression, and their capacity to empower indigenous communities, particularly women and youth. The article further analyzes challenges confronting Yoruba souvenir production and proposes context-specific policy and institutional interventions to enhance its contribution to domestic tourism development. ‎ ‎1. Introduction. ‎Yoruba cultural tourism is rooted in one of Africa’s most extensive and w...