Lagos Tourism Masterplan, Policy Will Transform The State Into A Tourism And Entertainment Hub In Africa – Seymour

Lagos State in the last few years has been talking tough in the areas of aggressive tourism development; with special emphasis on business, culture, and entertainment to cement the state as a destination of choice in Africa. In this interview with Olatunji Seymour, Senior Special Assistant on Tourism to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, he highlighted some of the strategies and priorities with African Travel Times Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Lucky Onoriode George. Excerpts: 

Lagos State made a pronouncement on tourism that led to the establishment of some tourism clusters, is this a preferred status or the usual political shenanigan?

The Ministry is prepared to reposition the tourism sector in line with the cardinal objectives of project THEMES of Mr. Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo – Olu and willing to demonstrate its commitment to actualizing its vision of making Lagos State the preferred destination for tourism, leisure, and business in Nigeria, and in Africa. So, it is not a political shenanigans but a statement of purpose. 

The much-talked-about Lagos State Tourism Master Plan has recently been reviewed once more and some far-reaching recommendations made to this all-important document, when do you think its adjustments and implementation would start?

The Ministry in collaboration with the Stakeholders in the Tourism and Entertainment sector has concluded arrangements to launch the Lagos Tourism masterplan and tourism policy before the end of the 2^nd quarter. the implementation of the Lagos tourism masterplan and tourism policy will further transform Lagos into a tourism and entertainment hub in Africa by exploring, promoting the potentials that abound in the State as well as supporting the thriving entertainment and arts industry as a viable platform to attract visitors and also create jobs in the State

 There are structures that the master plan recommended that the state must put in place before real tourism development and promotion can be sustainable in the state, when would these come?

Some of the structures need legislation to function effectively while others need consistent policies which the Lagos Tourism masterplan and policy have carefully addressed. The Ministry has commenced discussion with the Lagos State house of Assembly on the possible legislation that will further promote tourism sustainability.

Many are of the opinion that the ministry cannot be formulating policies and same time functioning as an implementation agency, what do you think?

We are repositioning the Ministry in line with the goals of the present Administration to develop Tourism, Arts and Culture to its maximum potentials and showcase the State to the World

 Infrastructure is a critical element of inclusive tourism development, where are we in Lagos?

We are creating the enabling environment for tourism to thrive and ensuring that Government provides infrastructure around the tourist attraction. We are also renovating and building new tourist attractions in order to make Lagos the preferred destination in Africa. 

Can you remind our readers of the different IBILES marked out for development as tourism clusters?

Lagos State Government is not concentrating infrastructure in a particular location rather domesticating tourism in all the local Government Areas.

For instance, the Lagos State Creative Industry Initiative by the Ministry is to stimulate economic growth and job creation, support innovation, and entrepreneurship, aid urban and rural regeneration, and stimulate exports. Integrating creative content with tourism experiences, improving destination image and competitiveness, and supporting the growth of the creative industries and creative export in all the Local Government Areas.

The vision behind LACI is to use the State’s rich, natural resources and diverse culture and heritage to promote the sustainable development of tourism as a viable sector of the economy in a manner that enhances, promotes, and preserves the richness, quality, and unique features of Lagos.

We are also leveraging on the potentials in the Creative sector to stimulate economic growth and job creation, support innovation, and entrepreneurship, aid urban and rural regeneration, and stimulate exports.

Some practitioners are of the view that the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture is for policies, but they also believed that there is the need for a tourism board for the implementation, what is the state doing?

Initiating a vibrant Domestic Tourism sector and encouraging local actions in Tourism, the Ministry has put in place a Tourism Masterplan and policy that will definitely project the State further as a multidimensional Tourist destination. These will enhance Lagos’s competitive positioning, relative to other tourism destinations and make it one of the top 3 tourist destinations in Africa.

With the masterplan, we hope to lay the foundation for developing a comprehensive and sustainable Tourism strategy for the State which focuses on its rich culture and heritage, community development, heritage management, preservation, and revenue generation.

We are harnessing and developing the State’s Tourism resources into different products of attraction for both inbound and outbound tourists; Unleashing Lagos Tourism to the World through aggressive digital marketing and promotion; stimulating and encouraging the creative arts industry, to support and encourage the development of Tourism initiatives by way of pro-poor tourism in the local Communities and Incorporating and integrating stakeholders as critical partners in Tourism planning and product development.

The Ministry is engaging with Stakeholders to critically access the urgent need to establish Lagos State Tourism Investment Corporations with the mandate of promoting investment in Tourism Infrastructure and projects in the State.

I am aware there is an existing law establishing Lagos State Tourism Agency which the master plan recommended some adjustment for its workability, which means the existing law would have to go back to the Lagos State House of Assembly for amendment, when would that happen?

We are promoting the best practices in the tourism industry by regulating the sector, categorization & classification of hospitality establishments in the State, promoting cooperation and goodwill among tourism operators, and encouraging the creation of jobs and generation of investment income so as to enhance the viability and sustainability of the State’s economy by being the major contributor to GDP for the State.

We have activated conversation with the Ministry of Justice and Lagos State House Committee on the possible document that will further enhance tourism sustainability for the State. 

It’s over three months now that the Governor approved a N1billion Tourism Loan for the tourism industry that is expected to be disbursed by the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund [LSETF], which sadly has not taken off, what’s delaying it?

The State Government as a way of identifying with all the concerned stakeholders took some steps aimed at cushioning the adverse effects of the perceived inactivity in the tourism, hospitality, and creative industry since the outbreak of Covid -19 last year.

Specifically, the State Government approved N1 billion as seed capital for investment in Tourism, Arts, and Culture, the process for accessing this fund is still ongoing and members of the creative sectors are also eligible to benefit from this gesture from Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s Administration.

Let me use this medium to implore Lagosians who have business establishments within the tourism, hospitality, entertainment, and creative industry to avail themselves of this golden opportunity to rejuvenate their businesses. The money is domiciled with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and interested persons are expected to apply. 

While we wait for the amendment and implementation of the tourism master plan, what are those low-hanging fruits that Lagos State would be harnessing pending?

The Ministry will be launching a Tourism website, 5-minute tourism video, and a 30-minute documentary on Tourism attractions aimed at further transforming Lagos State into a Tourism and Entertainment hub in Africa by exploring, promoting the potentials that abound in the State as well as supporting the thriving Entertainment and Creative Arts industry as a viable platform to attract visitors.

We have started implementing the Lagos State Creative Industry Initiatives which creates the opportunity for the creative Practitioners to learn, unlearn and relearn in order to be more competitive with their foreign counterparts and attract huge investment to the State.

We are also putting together a tourism calendar for all the activities this year both private and Government-owned programmes.

  What is Lagos State even selling as its tourism products that it has a comparative advantage on?

We are focusing on the State’s rich culture, heritage, potentials, and existing tourist attractions and opportunities, potential growth areas, and also addresses the overarching principle of sustainable growth, community development, and heritage preservation.

We are also leveraging on our waterfront to promote tourism. 

COVID-19 has devastated the travel and tourism industry, what more can the state do to ameliorate the challenges being faced by practitioners?

The Covid-19 pandemic is a crisis with dire consequences for the socio-economic and cultural development of Lagos State. However, it also presents an opportunity to reset the Sectors, for the ministry to demonstrate its commitment to actualizing its vision of making Lagos State the preferred destination for tourism, leisure, and business in Nigeria, and in Africa.

This is the time to provide support to the arts, culture, and tourism industries. The Ministry can use this time to identify key partners and stakeholders with which it can implement its tourism masterplan, develop robust tourism, arts, and cultural identity for the state.

Mr. Governor has also approved the establishment of Tourism Endowment Fund for the Tourism Industry; 50% discount Hospitality levies as Pandemic rebate for Y2020 and capacity building to support the various industries in the Tourism sector;

For many years, the Synagogue Church of All Nations [SCOAN] is a major promoter of Lagos as the religious destination in Africa, what is Lagos State doing to better package the church tourism content?

We are developing a robust strategy for Religion Tourism in Lagos in collaboration with critical stakeholders. We have started engagement and conversation already.

Where would you rate the sector so far?

We are doing so much and heading in the right direction. We have a lot to do and we are creating enabling environment to encourage the private sector to partner with the State to further promote tourism. 

Your message for practitioners and would-be tourists? 

Lagos is the preferred destination for tourists.