Tourism Attraction In Taraba State, Nigeria

Tourism Attraction In Taraba State, Nigeria


Tourism Attraction In Taraba State, Nigeria

Tourism is a combination of activities engaged for recreational, Religious and Educational purposes.

Tourism is refers to the temporary short-term movement of person or group of persons to places outside their normal resident to places outside, where they normally live and work, as well as their activities during their stay in such place, which is often referred to as destination.

Display of Fishes at Nwonyo fishing festival


Tourism is also said to be referred to the practice of traveling for pleasure which offer information, business opportunities, transportation and accommodations.
The places where such people visit is called Tourist Center or Resort Centers while the person who visit such places is called Tourist.

Tourism is an activity by individual or group of persons which lead to their movement from one geographical location to another.
One of the important Subject in Tourism is "SITE ATTRACTION."


Attractions are the main component in Tourism Industry. Attraction is the motivating factor for Tourist trip and the care of the tourism services.
Tourism comprises of Three (3) basic Element which are:
a. Dynamic Element.
b. Static Element.
c. Consequential Element.

DYNAMIC ELEMENT: This involves traveling to destination.

STATIC ELEMENT: This Involves staying in the destination.

CONSEQUENTIAL ELEMENT: This Involve both the dynamic and static elements which is caused by the effect of the economic, physical and social factors, which the Tourist is directly or indirectly in contact with.

 Taraba State and Tourism.

Taraba state was created on August 27 1991 by the Military Administrator, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. Taraba was caved out of the defunct Gongola State (present Adamawa).
The state derived its name from one of the three major rivers and cover a land area of,59,400sq km.
At inception, the state comprised of ten local government areas namely; Wukari, Takum, Karim Lamido, Saraduna, Jalingo, Donga Bali, Lau, Zing, Gashaka.

Currently, the state is having Sixteen Local Government Area as a result of the creation of the following new Local Government; Ardo-Kola, Gassol, Ussa, Ibbi, Kurmi and Yorro Local Government Areas respectively.
Also, the state has two Special Development Areas which are Yangtu created by the then Governor Late Danbaba Suntai in 2008 and also the recent Ngada Special Development Area, by GOVERNOR Darius Dickson Ishaku in 2017.


Beautiful Taraba Damsel


Geographical Location:
Taraba State lies roughly between Latitude 6°30 North Longitude 9°10 50 East. It is bounded by Bauchi and Gombe states in the Northeast and Adamawa on the East. It is also bounded by Plateau state in the Northwest. Taraba State land Mass is about 60291.83 KM SQ. The state is further bounded west by both Nasarawa and Benue State, while it share International boundary with Cameroon. Taraba State is the third largest state in Nigeria in terms of land mass.
The climate of Taraba is sub-equatorial climate with single maximum rainfall which could favour Tourism in the state. Like any other State, Taraba state is blessed with Tourist attraction.

The following are the Major Tourist Attraction in Taraba State:

* Gashaka Gumpti National Park, Gashaka LGA (Central zone)

* Marmara Crocodile Pond in Wukari LGA (southern zone)

* Mambila Plateau, the home of Highland Tea in Saraduna LGA. (Central Zone).

* Ibbi fishing festival (Southern Zone).

Factors That favour Tourism Attraction in Taraba.

The following are the factors that favour tourism attraction in the state:

1. Hospitality of the people (Host): The People Of Taraba State living within the tourist location must be friendly and accommodative as such will go along way for tourist to feel at home.

2. Wildlife like Yankari reserve Gumpti National Park in Gashaka can be developed to high standard to attract Tourist both foreign and local tourist to the state.

3. Good Publicity: For tourism to be attractive in the state there must be good publicity to create awareness for beautiful areas of attraction to the the tourist.

4. Attractive Scenery: For Tourism to grow and develop in Taraba, the government and Stakeholders must develop noticeable location that can attract Tourist. For example, Mountainous areas of Gembu and also the zing Rocky areas.

5. Favourable climate for Tourism: The climate of the Environment must be favourable for the tourist to relax.

6. Relative  Political Stability: For Tourism to strive there must be an atmosphere of political stability because no Tourist especially foreign Tourist will want to visit place that is not politically peaceful and stable.

7. Good Government Policy: Good government policies are important to tourism in the state.

8. Good Transport Network. There should be good transport network.

9. Security: There must be adequate security in place.

10. Accommodation: Hotels and Motels of International Standard.

The benefits that Taraba state will enjoy if it develop it  Tourist Attraction Centers.

1. Generation of employments.

2. It will serve as source of revenue to both the government and the people.

3. Provision of Infrastructure especially in Rural areas.

4. Foreign exchange

5. Conservation of wildlife.

6. Improvement of transport facilities and equipment.

7. Increased commercial activities through buying and selling.



Reasons of Tourism in Taraba State:

* Recreation: Recreation is any activity or program people do for pleasure or entertainment. Example, dancing, watching cinema and football marches.

* Education: One of the reasons for Tourism is education. When a Tourist visit's a place of interest they take time to educate themselves on the cultural activities of the people and also behaviour. It help a Tourist to learn things which he or she don't know before coming.

* Leisure or enjoyment: Leisure is one of the important reason for tourism. It give the Tourist an opportunity to enjoy themselves.

Taraba State ranks as one of the pace-setters in the field of tourism. Below are some very historical and attractive places for tourism both within the country and globally.
The temperate climate of the famous Mambilla Plateau Gembu in Sardauna L.G.A.
Barup Waterfalls – Gembu, Sardauna L.G.A.
Kakara Tea Plantation and Factory- Gembu Sardauna L.G.A.
Tunga Dam (Man-made) – Gembu, Sardauna L.G.A.
Gashaka Gumti National Park- Serti, Gashaka L.G.A.
Kashimbila Dam (Man –Made)-Takum, Takum L.G.A.
Rock formations at Fikyu-Ussa L.G.A.
Rock formations at Kpambo-Ussa L.G.A.
Marmara Crocodile Pond Wukari, Wukari L.G.A.
Highest Point in Nigeria at Chappal Wadi (Mountain of Death)-Gembu, Sardauna L.G.A.
Nwonyo Fishing and Cultural Festival-Ibi, Ibi L.G.A.
Pre-Colonial Executive Pit- Ibi, Ibi L.G.A.
Colonial Burial Ground- Ibi, Ibi L.G.A.
Baryte Quary – Ibi, Ibi L.G.A.
Rock formations at Zing –Zing L.G.A.
Rock formations at Bitako-Zing L.G.A.



It is no doubt that Taraba state is indeed a state with tourist attractions rich in resources and revenue generation. Therefore, the state government is called upon to invest more in the state tourism industry to harvest it maximum potentials for the benefit of the state.

By:

Gabriel Gideon (General)
Geography And Planning
University of JOS.