Lagos drafting master plan to revolutionise tourism sector -Commissioner

The Lagos state government is presently drafting a first time master-plan policy aimed at revolutionising the tourism and entertainment industry in the state for the next 10 years.

The proposed master plan is directed at addressing issues of human capital development, marketing and promotion for global standards, increasing tourists traffic in Lagos, providing opportunities to boost the economy, improving working conditions, development of the slave route project and ensuring the security, and safety of tourists, among others.

Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, who disclosed this on Tuesday during the ministerial briefing marking the strides of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration in one year, disclosed that the policy is being assessed by stakeholders before it’s presentation to the state executive council for approval and onward transmission to the state House of Assembly.

Akinbile-Yusuf, who lamented the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism and entertainment sector in the state, mentioned that despite the shortfalls, the ministry was able to generate revenue running into millions.

According to her, between the month of January and February, the ministry had generated over N20 million.

“The tourism and entertainment sector is currently bedeviled by the scourge of COVID-19 pandemic which had dealt a deadly blow on the tourism industry globally. 

“However, the KPI of the ministry at the beginning of the year in terms of its revenue generation pointed positively to the commitment of the ministry to meet its revenue target,” she said.

She stated that in line with the Lagos state Hotels and Establishments Licencing Law, 2010, the ministry has stimulated monitoring and enumeration of existing hospitality, and tourism establishments toward issuing of registration and standardization of the hospitality and tourism Industry to satisfy international best practices.

The coommissioner mentioned that based on the necessity to boost development in the sector, the ministry has strengthened measures to maintain and sustain relations with tourism associations, practitioners, promoters and investors in the state.

The commissioner added that over 200 hospitality and tourism establishments were registered between the period under review, among other licenses granted to operators in the industry.

She however, mentioned that the state government is working to conclude plans on the new guidelines for operators in the sector, as considerations to fully reopen the economy are been strengthened.

“It is the desire of the state government that the businesses of these operators are back and functional. We are also mindful of the fact that this sector is one of the highest employers of labour compared to other sectors. 

“This implies that these businesses not to function would lead to loss of jobs for several thousands of Lagosians,” she stated.

She stressed that given the significance to guide against loss of lives, the state is ready to give critical considerations to strategic modalities from stakeholders for a prompt decision on reopening of the economy.