Lagos State commissioner for Tourism, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, has said that the Hotel Licensing (Amendment) Law 2010 just signed into law by the Governor of the state following the passing of the bill by Lagos state House of Assembly is not a tax law.

Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi explained that the law is a response of the state government to the exigent need of the government and stakeholders’ incessant calls and clamour for the regulation, standardization, certification and grading of the tourism, hospitality and the leisure establishments in the State.

He added that the Law will ensure proper certification, regulation and maintenance of records in tourism, hospitality and leisure industry to meet requirements acceptable for security agencies in the fight against terrorism and other international security threats.

“The need to ensure uniform standard and harmonized services rendered by the hospitality, travel and leisure agencies for the optimization of money paid by clients are a further justification for this Law.”

The commissioner said apart from harnessing the enormous potentials of the tourism industry, “we have also responded to the cries of a number of our citizens who have become victims of an unregulated tourism sector.”

Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi said with the signing of the law by Governor Babatunde Fashola that they have succeeded in changing the face of Lagos by becoming the first government in Nigeria where hotels, service apartments, guest houses and restaurants will be classified and graded in line with international best practices of one star, two star, three star, four star and five star.
“Grading, standardization and regulation exercise would assist to get reference grading,  for investment inflows from World Bank International Monetary Fund (IMF), European Union, America and other industrialised government hospitality aid scheme as well as private equity investors to generate Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).”

The Law, according to him,  would also show the world that Logos is  serious about attracting  international tourists  and help to brand and position Lagos as an emerging business choice and leisure destination  of choice.

Senator Afikuyomi added that the first set of the graded hotels will be unveiled next month as part of the World Tourism Day celebration.

Asked if the ministry has the necessary manpower to carry out the grading and classification of hotels in the state, Senator Afikuyomi said “ of course we don’t have enough staff, we don’t have enough staff in terms of capacity, that is why we have begun the process of training the trainer, capacity building and development.”

He added that if there is a need to seek for foreign technical  assistance that they will do so, “ the Singapore tourism academy has offered us a kind of training support, we also have some engagement with South Africa.”