LASG to design strategies to resuscitate tourism for post-COVID-19 effect — Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf
By Oluwatope Lawanson
L-R: A Tourism Practitioner and Consultant, Dr. Adun Okupe; Chairman Lagos State of House Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Honourable Fatai Oluwa; Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm. (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf; Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Solomon Bonu; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Tourism, Honourable, Mr. Tunji Seymour during the Celebration of Y2021 World Tourism Day in Lagos with the theme: “Tourism for Inclusive Growth” on Monday.
The Lagos State Commissoner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf on Monday said that the the state was already working on modalities to resuscitate the tourism sector aftermatch of COVID-19 effects on the sector.
Akinbile-Yussuf made the disclosure at a ceremony to mark the “World Tourism Day” held at NECA Hall, Ikeja Lagos.
The theme of the 2021 ceremony is “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”
Akinbile-Yussuf noted that the government was oblivious of the negative impacts of COVID-19 on the tourism sector, hence it had embarked on special interventions to the sector.
“Today is a special day for the entire tourism industry across the globe. Let me not bore us with too much rhetoric on the rationale behind the annual World Tourism Day celebration.
“This is mainly designed to gather thoughts on the strategies that could be adopted to further improve tourism activities.
“Considering the fact that Tourism sector is such that is not static, the need to constantly review emerging trends in this sector cannot be over emphasised, especially with the advent of COVID-19.
“This has further underscored the indispensability re-strategizing our plans to meet present day realities,” she said.
Akinbile-Yussuf said that the past years had seen a lots of setback to the tourism sector, hence, an urgent need to address the challenges.
“In a real sense, Tourism in the past two years has suffered a serious setback due to covid 19 outbreak.
“As the reality is dawn on us now that we may have to live with this virus for a while, the onus is for us to design new strategies to resuscitate this very important sector.
“This we must do without compromising all covid-19 protocols.
“For us, we realized this fact and have kept constant relationship with you our stakeholders to regularly brainstorm and design ways through which we can keep this sector alive despite the covid 19 threat.
“Contributions to the production of the State Tourism Masterplan is an evidence of the synergetic relationship that exist between us,” she said.
Akinbile-Yussuf added “You will recall that before now, we have held two interactive sessions as a way of harmonizing thoughts on the prosperity of Lagos State, especially as tourism, arts, culture and entertainment is concerned.
“The first session was on “The Best of Lagos” while the second was on “Promoting Domestic Tourism: Post-covid” and plan is still in place for another stakeholders’ session before the end of the year.
“We believe that we can thrive better through a collaborative relationship with all our relevant stakeholders.
“I am happy to report that the fall out of these meetings are now being implemented by the Ministry.
“Specifically, we have started a training session for about 150 tour guides who would ensure that Visitor/Tourist have a worthwhile experience in Lagos at all time,” she said.
Akinbile-Yussuf noted that the initiative of the state’s government would contribute to the attractiveness of tourism destinations, create employment opportunities for potential tour guides and positively impact the GDP of the State.
“The Ministry has launched its Community-Based Tourism, CBT, initiative with a pilot phase of six local government areas namely: Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu, Oshodi-Isolo, Eti-Osa and Surulere.
“All these are being implemented in consonance with the State’s Tourism Masterplan and Policy implementation.
“The establishment of the Community-Based Tourism Unit in the Ministry is in line with the State’s Tourism Master Plan and Policy.
“We have made adequate support in terms of the provision of all necessary logistics that would enhance the delivery of this responsibilities by our officials,” she said.
The Commissioner added “It is our belief that the idea of this CBT, at this period, will enable the Ministry explore, access and develop Tourism potentials such as Unique Cultural Practices, Tradition and Heritage within the Local Community.
“In the same vein, the feedback we have been receiving so far from our training programmes of enhancing the capacity development of filmmakers under the Lagos State Creative Industry Initiative, LACI.
“The we achieve through our partnership with Delyork Creative Academy and EbonyLife Creative Academy which has been overwhelming.
“We are indeed glad that these initiatives are gradually changing the narratives in the film industry and we remain committed to invest more in this industry.
“The Ministry’s website and promotional videos of tourism attractions and tourism potentials in Lagos State is up and running,” She said.
Akinbile-Yusuf urged all the stakeholders of tourism to get acquainted with the state’s programme on its website via: lagostourism.lagosstate.gov.ng.
“We also want all to advantage of our various social media platforms.
“The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu in demonstration of his love for the film industry, recently approved a special fund for film makers with the inauguration of a committee to oversee the disbursement of this funds.
“The qualified individuals who can access up to ₦40million Naira from the fund as a loan for the purpose of film production.
“Also, our plans for the establishment of Lagos Film City is on course. Lagos Film City which is designed to be located at Ejirin in Epe Local Government Area of the State.
Akinbile-Yusuf said that the various investment of the state would bring a huge sigh of relief for film makers, Content owners and Producers in the Creative and entertainment industry.
“The film city will serve as a modern and conducive atmosphere for producing movies and other creative contents as it will be a one-stop centre for all movies and content creators.
“We have done the Aerial view of the proposed location, 3D Video and Animation, Floor Plans, Roof plans, site layout, Landscape design, sections for different building types among others.
“The Lagos Film City at Ejirin will serve as a huge impetus for the development of the entertainment industry especially via cost reduction and employment generation bringing about huge relief and improved quality film productions.
“The investment of the State Government in these film and tourism initiatives are ways of encouraging the growth of this sector especially at this critical period of low activities in the tourism industry,” she said.
Earlier, Mr Solomon Bonu, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, said that Covid 19 pandemic has had a massive social and economic impact on tourism in both developed and developing countries.
Bonu added that the pandemic had marginalised groups and the most vulnerable have been hit hardest of all.
He said: “Therefore, as the world celebrates the World Tourism Day (WTD), it would afford everyone the opportunity to look beyond tourism statistics and knowledge noting that, behind every number, there is a person.
“The UNWTO is banking on us as tourism practitioners to celebrate tourism’s unique ability to ensure that nobody is left behind as the world begins to open up and look at the future.
“WTD celebrated each year on September 27 is the global observance day fostering awareness of tourism’s social and economic value and the contribution that the sector can make towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.
“The human desire to travel and explore is universal which is why tourism must be open for all to enjoy considering the social and economic benefits that tourism brings to everyone.
The WTD therefore highlights the power of Tourism for lnclusive Growth, and it is on this note that I urge us all to consider this day a unique occasion to amplify conversation about the sector’s role in recovery and inclusive growth.
Chairman House Committee on Tourism, Hon. Fatai Oluwa was optimistic that the gathering would live up to expectation towards building and establishing partnership for the growth of the Sector.
Oluwa said the State is not oblivious of its enormous potentials and is working assiduously to cater for all and sundry because Tourism affects everyday activities, as it was not only tilted towards driving economic growth but enhancing social progress across the world.
He enjoined stakeholders to showcase the State cultural heritage as well as its people to prospective visitors, while assuring that the State House of Assembly would continue to give legislative support to development of the Industry.
The Permanent Secretrary of the Ministry, Mrs. Adenike Adedoyin-Ajayi, who presented the message by Secretary-General of UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, stressed the need to open more opportunities and benefits available in the sector to everyone in order to enhance its scope.
This, according to the Message, will bring about inclusiveness, stressing that inclusive growth means getting everybody on board in building a foundation for a better future for all in the tourism sector.
Speaking in a separate interview, the Permanent secretary explained that the State is working to harness all the available resources that can revive the Tourism sector which was badly affected by the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic.
According to her, the State is not only looking at Tourism within the tourism Ministry we are looking at it affect its entirety in Lagos and Nigeria as a whole, because we have realized that working together will ensure that tourism become a good experience for the d resident of Lagos and the State Community Based tourism will allow Domestic Tourism to grow.”
She affirmed that the sector recorded unquantifiable loss both in finance and emotion during the pandemic, stressing that efforts are in top gear to stabilize the sector.
In her paper presentation, Dr. Adun Okupe said for inclusive growth to be achieved, local communities must be actively involved regardless of their age, economic status, religion and besides the activation of gender equality, women must be allowed to play key role in ensuring inclusivity in the Tourism sector.
She also called for provision of social infrastructure that can facilitate easy access to local communities as well as consistent training, education and development opportunities for the people in custody of historical buildings, so that it can provide ecosystem for economic and social growth.
(NAN)
