In a goodwill message at the public
presentation of the tourism masterplan and policy, the bank's Chief Executive
Officer (CEO), Abubakar Suleiman, said, "We will support the government to
unleash the tourism potential of Lagos State and reposition it into one of the
most preferred destinations in Africa for local and international leisure
travellers."
According to the bank chief, the
presentation of the 20-year masterplan and policy to industry stakeholders is a
concrete and coordinated action for re-booting the tourism economy in Lagos on
a robust and sustainable basis.
Abubakar, who was represented at the event
by the Regional Business Executive, Institutional Banking, Lagos, Mojibola
Oladunni, was quoted in a statement to have said, "We are confident that
the masterplan and policy will ensure a more sustainable and resilient tourism
sector that would improve the citizenry's quality of life, accelerates job
creation and poverty alleviation."
He noted that COVID-19 lockdown and
restrictions threw the global tourism industry a curveball in 2020, stopping
about one billion people from embarking on international trips.
This, he said, provides a massive
opportunity for Lagos to work with private sector partners to stimulate the
sector to create experiences that would excite and make homegrown international
leisure travellers' visit local destinations.
He said although Lagos has been a beacon
for managing tourism in a structured, coordinated, and sustainable manner, the
unveiling of a masterplan and policy will further harness the power of
innovation, entrepreneurship, and communication to develop the sector.
Presenting the masterplan, Lagos State
Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat said,
"We have taken decisive steps to explore the abundant possibilities in
this very critical sector by allowing practitioners and key stakeholders to be
directly involved in every one of our policies."
He said the policy is also an attempt to
unlock opportunities for tourism in the state as they had yet to be fully
harnessed, adding that the event is evidence of the state government's
commitment to inclusiveness and stakeholders' partnership since the tourism
sector thrives on Public-Private Partnership and collaboration.
The governor said the policy document will
direct efforts in the tourism sector in six strategic areas: Culture and
Heritage; Film, Art, and Entertainment; Business and Meetings, Incentives;
Conferences and Entertainment; Beach and Leisure; Nature and Adventure; and
Medical and Wellness.
The Minister of Information and Culture,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, represented by the Director-General Nigerian Tourism
Development Corporation (NTDC), Mr. Folorunsho Coker, said it is time for all
government tiers in the country to collaborate on issues relating to tourism.
Lagos State Commissioner of Ministry of
Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, said the masterplan
would further transform Lagos into a major African tourism and entertainment
hub by exploring and promoting the potentialities that abound in the state and
integrate the thriving entertainment and arts industry as a viable platform to
attract visitors and create jobs.
The commissioner said the 20-year document
was conceived with the vision, "to make Lagos State one of the top five
urban tourism destinations in Africa and recognised as the face of art in
Africa for its multiple creative and innovative tourism products and
experiences.
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