The Lagos State government plans to develop local and foreign tourism to enhance economic growth

The Lagos state government aims to significantly improve the tourism and hospitality sector, land-based casinos’ operators are no exception to benefit from the project.

Basically, land-based casinos work-hand-in-hand with tourism and hospitality sectors. Most of the casinos are strategically located in hotel space, such an initiative encouraged by the government, to boost local and foreign tourism and register all tourist centers, resorts, and hotels in the State government online portal. Obviously, casino operators in the State will get more views from foreign tourist to choose the best place to visit.

This will propel the sector and create a competitive market landscape in the industry as tourist arrivals will have several options to go all out for the best destinations.?The State government and stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industry have agreed on a community-based initiative to improve Lagos’ tourism potentials.

At the Physical and Virtual version of the event, participants acknowledge the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the sector and stressed the need to use the opportunity, which had restricted inbound and outbound traveling, to promote domestic tourism in Lagos. At the event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Arts, Tourism and Culture, Mrs, Uzamat, Akinbile-Yusuf “pointed out that the State blessed with an abundance of untapped resources in the Agriculture value chain which, if well harnessed, will boost the economy, increase internally generated revenue and create job opportunities.”

Further, “tourism attractions across the State would now have a market situated in each of the centers, such that when tourists visit the sites, they could buy items that further project Lagos across the globe.” The Commission stated that plans are already being perfected further to leverage the State’s copious natural resources endowments to develop the sector and attract the local and foreign tourists. Akinbile-Yusuf said the ministry is registering all the hospitality establishments and classifying them to ensure that various outlets in the State are delineated.

“We are trying to document all the tourist attraction sites in Lagos, and I can tell you in another one or two months, we are going to have that presentation, and no sites in Lagos state will be left out so that tourist will have the first view of this locations online. That is one of the ways we are trying to domesticate tourism in Lagos State,” She explained.

The Special Advisor to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Solomon Bonu, called for greater attention to tourist sites in the Badagry area of Lagos State, stressing that the ancient town is very rich in history and significant for the country’s tourism. The governor has also identified the needs to focus on developing rural areas in the State as a way of making every community viable while reducing rural-urban migration.

Lagos, the commercial nerve of Nigeria, offers a wide variety of tourist attractions that includes its historical sites, extended and roomy river and ocean beaches ideal for relaxation and other water sports, rich and varied handicrafts, and other vibrant products depicting or expounding native arts and lifestyle, which many of these attractions are still mostly unexploited. Tourism and hospitality crucially contribute substantial revenue to the Lagos state economy; direct tourism accounted for $2.2 billion in 2016 alone and could increase to $3.4 billion in 2026 according to official reports. Furthermore,? the State’s current GDP stands at $136 billion, despite the uncertainties that becloud the tourism sector amid the Covid-19, the government still expressed optimism that the direct tourism contribution to Lagos economy could yet hit the projected $3.4 billion by 2026.

By Adeleye Awakan: An Author for E-play Africa, on gaming and gambling industry, AI, Blockchain, Fintech, researcher, and consultant with over 5 years of experience in the Africa gaming and gambling ecosystem. Connect with him on Linkeldln, Adeleye Awakan Skype: live:a2b5e96b401c7985 Telegram: @AdeleyeAwakan, Email:[email protected]

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