All is set for a roundtable conference on sustainable tourism in Lagos. The event scheduled for Thursday, November 24 and Friday November 25, is organized by the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN) Lagos State chapter.  The organizers say the aim of the conference with the theme: Lagos Tourism: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, was to set an agenda and chart a roadmap for tourism development of Lagos State as the preferred destination in Africa.

Speaking further, ITPN Lagos chapter added that the event scheduled for Eko Hotels and Suites, aims to assert that Lagos state government has shown sufficient commitment and its resilient in growing its tourism potentials. Adding that  while tourism was globally plagued by the Covid-19 pandemic that ravaged the industry, Lagos state was able to stand to the challenge of the pandemic by its proactive actions at mitigating the scourge as well as cushioning of the negative economic impacts and hardships on industry operators for palliatives with grants and interest free loans worth One Billion Naira.

It continued: “the Institute was inspired by the singular and unique attributes of the Lagos state government in the show of concern for the travel tourism and hospitality industry of the state and its desire, as expressed in many fora, to grow the state tourism potentials for the socio-economic benefits of the people.

“The roundtable conference is to further put Lagos state in public and private sector domain with the view to charting the way of consolidating the industry’s position and open a new chapter of progression after the Covid-19 pandemic for accelerated recovery and boom.

“Sub themes expected to be deliberated up   on includes: the role of the gatekeepers (police, customs, immigration, Civil Defense Corps) the challenges to building a flourishing tourism industry in Lagos State; developing a road map for Lagos tourism industry connectivity: Achieving sustainable tourism development in Lagos State through industry connectivity, and; building efficient and innovative tourism transportation system in Lagos State: the way forward.

“Others are: the Symbiotic-relationship of tourism and the environment: the challenges and prospects for tourism in Lagos State; the role of Local Government Councils in Tourism development in Lagos State: Empowering Community participation. Strategies for meeting the Lagos State hospitality and tourism industry skill needs; tourism Plan: Implementation, prospect and challenges and Technology and Tourism in the 21st century: The Way Forward for Lagos Tourism.”

The event is expected to have in attendance key players in the tourism industry of the country including the Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu, President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) Nkereuwem Onung, Alhaji Nura Sani Kangiwa, Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR).

Others are, Mr. Folorunsho Coker, Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Chief Abiodun Odusanwo, National President of the Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria ITPN and Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, Founder/CEO, La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort.