The Enugu State Government and the Hotel Owners Association have partnered to make the state the major tourism hub in the country and within the West Africa sub-region.
Chief Steve Odo, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Gov. Peter Mbah on Tourism, disclosed this while visiting the Chairman of the Hotel Owners Association, Dr Johnson Ugwoke, in Enugu on Tuesday.
Odo said he was visiting on the governor’s mandate to engage private tourism stakeholders in promoting and developing the state’s tourism industry.
According to him, the governor is focused on making Enugu State the foremost competitive tourism destination and major tourism hub within the country and the West African sub-region.
He said that the government had put in place robust security arrangements and investments, such as the building of first-class and five-star hotels and an internationally and nationally patronised conference centre.
He added that nightlife had returned to the state as well as a good road network.
“We have to come to partner, collaborate and cooperate with the Hotel Owners Association as the ‘engine room of tourism to make Enugu the tourism hub, East of the Niger and by extension, the entire country and the West African sub-region,” he said.
Responding in the presence of his vice, Chief Jeff Uke, the chairman expressed joy over the governor’s performance, especially in the security, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Ugwoke specifically mentioned the International Conference Centre (ICC) and the Hotel Presidential, Enugu, as miraculous achievements within the governor’s two years in office.
He also commended the governor for ending the Monday-Sit-At-Home, and for introducing the Consolidated Revenue Payment Method.
The chairman described Enugu State as the most secure state in the South-East and the country, “Thus making Enugu safe for tourists and bringing more revenue to hotels and eateries”.
Ugwoke, however, expressed resentment over what he described as ‘double taxation’.
“I strongly believe it will be resolved through dialogue with the tourism-friendly governor, His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah.
“The governor has done so much for us by providing an enabling environment for sustainable tourism practice in the state, and we are going to reciprocate his good gestures towards our association.
“We also appeal that you, the SSA to the Governor on Tourism, should be a bridge between the governor and us.
“The association is ensuring the governor of its absolute loyalty and cooperation as he rolls out more visionary, tourism-impactful projects, which will continue to make Enugu the foremost and irresistible destination for tourists always,’’ he added.
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