By Jimoh Babatunde

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to positioning the state as Nigeria’s premier tourism destination with a renewed partnership with the Nigeria Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) ahead of the association’s 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for July 8 to 12 in Lagos.

The government said the collaboration reflects its resolve to deepen tourism development through strategic partnerships with the private sector, destination promotion and community participation.

Speaking at a press conference organised by NATOP in Ikeja, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, said the ministry would actively participate in the week-long event as part of its efforts to strengthen the state’s tourism ecosystem.

She noted that the partnership between the Lagos State Government and NATOP has over the years contributed significantly to promoting Lagos and Nigeria as attractive tourism destinations both locally and internationally.

According to her, sustainable tourism can only thrive when residents, tourism practitioners and cultural stakeholders work together to preserve the environment, protect cultural heritage and showcase the state’s rich tourism assets.

“We are actually all tourists and we must protect our environment, protect our culture and protect our heritage, what we hold dear,” she said.

Oyekan-Ismaila urged stakeholders to take greater responsibility for preserving the state’s cultural identity, arts, cuisine and natural attractions, stressing that communities that value their heritage are better positioned to attract visitors and investment.

“If we don’t pay attention to them and promote them and let people know that we appreciate what we have, that is when people will also take us seriously,” she added.

She described Lagos as Nigeria’s tourism capital, saying the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration has continued to prioritise tourism and entertainment as key pillars of its economic development agenda.

According to her, Lagos remains the country’s leading destination for culture, entertainment, meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), beach tourism, leisure, wellness and adventure tourism.

The Permanent Secretary also commended NATOP for its contributions to destination marketing and its role in expanding Nigeria’s tourism profile on the global stage.

Explaining why the association chose Lagos for its landmark AGM, NATOP President, Mrs. Bolaji Mustapha, said the decision was informed by the state government’s consistent investment in tourism development and unwavering support for industry initiatives.

She disclosed that although the event was initially planned for Enugu State, the association decided to return to Lagos in appreciation of the government’s commitment to promoting tourism through policy support, capacity building and destination marketing.

Mustapha recalled the state’s support for World Tourism Day celebrations, community tourism initiatives at Takwa Bay, training programmes for tourism operators and participation in international tourism exhibitions.

She said the AGM, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Tourism Potential: Strengthening Tour Operators for Sustainable Destination Development,” will bring together key stakeholders to explore ways of growing domestic tourism, strengthening partnerships and positioning tourism as a major contributor to economic diversification, investment and job creation.

Activities lined up for the five-day event include the inauguration of NATOP’s national secretariat, conference sessions, a Lagos city and waterways tour, a business retreat, a golf tournament and a gala dinner.

The hosting of the AGM further reinforces Lagos’ position as the country’s leading tourism hub and highlights the state’s strategy of leveraging partnerships with industry players to drive sustainable tourism growth.