The Lagos State Government has said in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, new strategies will be created to revive the tourism and hospitality sector in the state.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, said this on Monday during a symposium to herald the 2021 World Tourism Day in Lagos.
She said, “Tourism in the past two years has suffered a serious setback due to COVID-19 outbreak. As the reality is dawning on us now that we may have to live with this virus for a while, the onus is on us to design new strategies to resuscitate this very important sector without compromising all COVID-19 protocols.
“For us at the ministry, we realised this fact and have kept constant relationship with our stakeholders to regularly brainstorm and design ways through which we can keep this sector alive despite the COVID-19 threat.”
Akinbile-Yusuf explained that the initiative would make tourism more attractive and boost the economy of the state.
“We have started training for about 150 tour guides who will ensure that tourists have a worthwhile experience in Lagos at all time. Apart from this, the initiative will also contribute to the attractiveness of tourism destinations, create employment opportunities for potential tour guides and positively impact the Gross Domestic Product of the state,” she added.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Solomon Bonu, said, “World Tourism Day is the global observance day for fostering awareness of tourism’s social and economic value and the contribution that the sector can make towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.”
