Tourism experts have commended the Lagos State initiative of it’s Yuletide and Cross Over event ‘One Lagos Fiesta’ OLF as a path towards improving Tourism and developing economic base of the State.
Experts believe the idea to enhance the scope of Art and Entertainment to promote tourism was a welcome development which would go along the way to engender economic development and empower people of the State.
Creative Economy
In an interview with Voice of Nigeria, a Lagos-based Hospitality entrepreneur, Mr. Taofeek Aromolate said that the creative economy being built by the current government led by Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was a massive platform which has future opportunities.
Aromolate explained that in the last three years, the hotel and hospitality business in Lagos has received a boost especially during the last month of the year and this has resulted into a call for more hotels across the State.
He said that besides multiple concerts that characterized every last month in the State, there are other numerable events that are staged in many parts of the State during the year which attract both locals and foreign tourists.
According to him “Because of the nature of the event which happened simultaneously in different five locations, hotels in those areas enjoyed more patronage. Precisely, from the 1st of January and all through the year, the sector witness big and small concerts which involve hotel and space booking and this is increasing our financial base.”
While corroborating the recent statement by the Commissioner for Tourism Art and Culture, Mr Steve Ayorinde on the statistics which showed cash transaction of about 50billion naira during the last year OLF, Aromolate said that with the vigor and new innovations into this year’s event, the State should expect an increase in its GDP by the incoming year.
Enter-Tourism
A Tour guide, Mr. Kazeem Balogun explained that the push for Lagos special status on Tourism calendar can only be achieved with continuous activation of programs and events such as OLF, that can fuse Enter-Tourism for economic development.
Balogun who lauded ‘THESE’ vision of the government which is Tourism, Health, Entertainment and Sports for Excellence was optimistic of the robust and promising future of Lagos Tourism.
He called for more infrastructure development projects that would ease the moments for prospective tourists in the State.
– Confidence Okwuchi I VON
