Even with its status as the 3rd most visited city in Africa, the Lagos State Government is planning on how to further showcase the tourism potentials of the state to local and foreign tourists through its “The Best of Lagos” initiative.
To this effect, the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture recently brought together various stakeholders in the tourism sector comprising tour operators, hoteliers, tourism promoters and ambassadors, among others in a two-day summit to deliberate on workable strategies and synergy that would sell the State’s tourism potentials to local and international tourists through its domestic initiative.
The stakeholders rose from the two-day summit harping on the need to collaborate with the Tourism Ministry in order to make Lagos a choice destination for tourists.
They also canvassed that efforts should be geared towards fine-tuning strategies that will showcase and sell “The Best of Lagos” to potential tourists who are desirous of finding the best experience of entertainment, fun and relaxation and value for their money, strengthening and improving on innovation by offering authentic, affordable experiences also having packages that meet the needs of potential local travellers will play a pivotal role in achieving our intention to reposition tourism activities in the State and creating tourism desks in all local council areas in the state where it will be easier for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to take the inventory of the various tourism sites in these localities and put in place necessary plans and provisions for them towards developing domestic tourism.
These and many more are the resolutions that the stakeholders arrived on at the end of the summit which witnessed the delivery of two very thought – provoking and impressive presentations from Amb. Ikechi Uko, Organiser Akwaaba Africa Travel Market and Dr. Adun Okupe, Tourism Consultant, Red Clay Tourism Advisory and Faculty, Strategy Lagos Business School.
The stakeholders also canvassed the exploration of Community Based Tourism by focusing on Culture, Festivals, Heritage and further exploring tourism sites to attract more tourists, the reinforcement of what Lagosians already see and Scale them up. eg. Entertainment, Weddings, Owambe of all Kinds, Night outs, Beach activities and Religious Holiday activities to mention but a few:
They also stated that focus on domestic tourism should expand the leisure economy, recognising that residents within the state also require leisure activities which in turn can then be made available to visitors and tourists visiting Lagos State.
They added that in order to convert 20 million Lagosians into Tourists, there is a need to draw a new picture, open new Vistas and reintroduce Lagosians to the real Lagos in order to change the narrative and retell the Story of Lagos;
The stakeholders were charged to start working with schools, universities, organizations and also ensure that deliveries present rich storylines that connect us with Lagos, its history, its potentials and how we fit into all of this. It is time for more harmonisation and deepening of Partnership relationships;
More importantly, stakeholders were reminded to focus on the budget/economy and mid -scale segments as pricing will be a key issue.
Speaking at the commencement of the summit, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Fatai Oluwa, said that the legislature is in full support of the decision of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to domesticate tourism activities in the State.
According to him, the House of Assembly, as part of its demonstration of interest in revamping the tourism sites across the State, recently embarked on visits to all monument sites with the intention of upgrading them to international standards.
He added that the Legislative arm of the State Government is willing to support the realisation of the plans of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s administration for Entertainment and Tourism by providing necessary legislative backing for the policies of the Ministry.
Oluwa assured that all reports and recommendations from the Summit would be considered for approval by the State House of Assembly.
In her contribution, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, said the Ministry has developed well-structured plans to upgrade existing tourism sites in the State, adding, however, that there is a need to involve all key stakeholders in tourism activities to bring the plans to fruition.
Akinbile-Yussuf explained that the theme of the Summit seeks to get the best of Lagos in the area of tourism, through meaningful and very engaging discussions that will help bring out the best strategy needed to revamp the entire tourism sector of the State.
“I want us to use this gathering to fine-tune our strategy that will sell the theme of this summit to potential tourists who are desirous of finding the best of entertainment, fun and relaxation and value for their money. Apart from the economic activities which Lagos has been known for, we are determined to market ‘The Best of Lagos’ brand to tourists within and outside the country. This, we intend to achieve with the collaboration of all our stakeholders” she stated.
She emphasised that the Ministry wants tourists from any part of the country and outside the country to leave their places of residence to come to Lagos and experience the best, which this city offers, in term of hospitality, recreation, relaxation, sight-seeing and many more, by planning a three-day to several weeks of holiday to visit different tourism sites across the State.
While highlighting the efforts of the government in the area of domestic tourism, the Commissioner said that the Ministry had discovered new tourism sites in Badagry and Epe, stating that tourism desks are being created in all local council’s areas across the State to further develop domestic tourism.
Akinbile-Yussuf averred that the creation of tourism desks would facilitate taking inventory of the various sites in the localities and make provisions for them.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Bonu Solomon, promised that the outcome of the two-day gathering will not be swept under the carpet, saying “The reason why this summit has been put together is as a result of our genuine intention to make this sector to continue to play the lead among other competing sectors”.
“I want to plead with all our discussants to offer their genuine opinion on the roles which the government can play in addition to what the State Government is doing presently to develop the tourism sector”, he stated.
