Photograph — 789MARKETING

Lagos state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Steve Ayorinde, has announced the state’s plan to inaugurate its first ever tourism calendar. Ayorinde made this announcement in his address at the 2018 Tourism Innovation and Development Advantage (TIDA) held in Lagos on Thursday, February 15th 2018.

Perhaps, this is another strategic move by the commissioner to increase the turnover revenue this year. It would be recalled that last year, a statement from the commissioner revealed that Lagos state generated 50 billion naira from tourism –a very impressive milestone from the Ayorinde-led commission.

Ayorinde, as quoted by The Guardian, disclosed that the state’s plan on the tourism calendar is to showcase various tourism activities planned for the year, on a roll. According to him, the calendar is a complete novel idea which will cater for updates around each and every event on the timeline.  

“This is the first of its kind; the calendar will show plans, venues and dates of festivals, carnivals and conferences. It will also provide guides on how tourists, visitors and the public can enjoy such events,” the commissioner said.

Ayorinde, in the address, further explained that there was serious need for the country to encourage and harness the promising potentials in tourism, as this can serve as another revenue rig. The commissioner emphasized, according to the conference report, that the idea behind the calendar was borne out of the need to encourage the development of the sector.

He also described Nigeria as “a home that can flourish with tourism and entertainment,” criticizing why the country is failing to take responsibility for the business aspect” which according to him –by standards includes provision of necessary facilities in tourist locations.

“There is a lot we can do if we get a lot of mappings and communications right,” he said. “Nigeria is a home of tourism and entertainment, but we are not ready for the business aspect of it, which includes availability of hotels in tourist locations.”

“This is a harsh reality.”

Also, speaking on the relegation of the sector, the Ogun state commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Muyiwa Oladipo, who was also in attendance, reportedly noted that the current state of tourism in the country is poor –however, reassuring Nigerians, that so much is in the pipeline to grow the sector in years ahead. 

“Tourism is the future of the Nigerian economy and if better harnessed, it will generate more revenue,” he said.

The TIDA conference, which is an initiative of Skyview Communications, is a leading marketing agency in Lagos with a focus on branding, advertising and marketing consultancy. The agency brings stakeholders, young entrepreneurs and representatives of government together to discuss the opportunities that exist in the Nigerian tourism industry and how to leverage on this to transform the economy of the country. 

The 2018 edition of the conference hinged its theme on Tourism and its prospects in a Nigerian landscape under the spotlight: “Impact of Tourism Development on The Nigerian Economy” –attracting a number of dignitaries comprising of tourism stakeholders, art enthusiasts and public icons.

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