Canvasses the formation of a Lagos convention bureau to boost tourism business in the state
Akwaaba Travel Market team paid a courtesy call to the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture as it recognises the tourism efforts of the state. The visit was led by Mr. Ikechi Uko, organiser of Akwaaba Travel Market, Accra Weizo and Port Harcourt Bantaba and the team was received by Mr. Ashimi Jamiu Adewale, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry with his officers among whom are Mrs. Adamma Oni, Mrs. Titi Salau, Yetunde Simpson and Mr. Ganiu Lawal. Both parties shared possible positive ways to bring Lagos tourism efforts to the front burner, touched on areas that holds mutual partnership benefits and the channels that could be adopted in driving further growth in the tourism sector of the state. Speaking during the event, Uko observed that Lagos has all the indices to excel in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions). "Lagos can host any event of international standard as it has centres of about 5,000sq metres, airport, hotels and nightlife," he stated. He offered to work with Lagos achieve to achieve its goals.
On his part, Ashimi explained that the "The Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has mandated fast track of products," as the state is looking towards developing all the tourism attractions and sites and also to use culture to attract more visitors and tourists to the state. He was happy to receive the letter of award as the Most Active Tourism State. “Culture is a product," Uko explained. "Tourism is the consumption of the product. Tourism people are the ones who create the business from the culture. Culture creates the product. Tourism markets the product. tourism's job is to create the business. “Culture people will do it for the sake of culture; but tourism people are the ones who will now transform culture into business. Lagos is Africa's entertainment capital," Uko asserted. He went on to canvass the formation of a Lagos State Convention and Visitors Bureau to boost the creation of a tourism framework that will drive the marketing of the state as a destination for MICE and other tourism activities. He buttressed his points by making reference to the Dubai and South African examples as they have gone ahead and have even established offices in Nigeria, and organise regular roadshows and visits to Lagos.
"We need a bureau to activate tourism business for Lagos," Uko concluded. The Permanent Secretary appreciated the visit and expressed his delight in partnering with Akwaaba. He promised that Lagos will host international visitors to Akwaaba 2017 on a tour of Lagos. And that Lagos will utilise the ideas and goodwill offered. He promised to brief the governor of the award. The Akwaaba team included Mr. Uko, Rita Ikechi-Uko, Dein Gbabo and Renn Offor. From the outcome of the meeting, going by the excitement and satisfaction that beamed on the faces of the parties, it was obvious that tourism efforts would begin to achieve needed dividents in the years to come the ideas.