The Managing Director of Jumia’s Hotel & Flight Marketplace, Mrs Omolara Adagunodo, on Wednesday commended the Lagos State House of Assembly for passing the bill to establish the state’s Tourism Promotion Agency.
Adagunodo, in a statement, said that Lagos was a tourism hub and it was high time the state had a robust agency to promote tourism.
The State House of Assembly had on Nov. 5 passed a bill for a law to provide for the establishment of the Lagos State Tourism Promotion Agency and for connected purposes.
The Agency is being put in place to promote the state’s tourism industry and achieve international best practices in the delivery of tourism products and services.
Adagunodo said the bill arrived at the appropriate time, with tourism’s contribution to the national economy evolving.
The managing director urged other state houses of assembly to take a queue from Lagos and begin the process of setting up tourism promotion agencies.
She said that dedicating an agency to the promotion of tourist hubs in Lagos would undoubtedly increase tourism contribution to the economy.
“The bill will further boost the status of the state as a one-stop destination for local and international tourists.
“It will help in the promotion of various destinations and attractions in the state, including the National Theatre, Lekki Conservation, Badagry and Takwa Bay Beaches, among many others”.
She said that the 54-section bill spelt out some of the objectives of the new agency, which include promotion, marketing and developing the state domestically and internationally as a major tourist destination by highlighting its uniqueness.
Adagunodo said it would develop and promote the state as a premier travel and tourist destination.
“It will also attract and increase tourist arrivals, direct tourism investment, identify and develop potential tourism destination in the state,” she said.