The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has launched a programme tagged Community-Based Tourism (CBT).
with the idea of promoting domestic tourism in six Local Government Areas across the State.
Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, who disclosed this at a sensitisation programme for staff, cultural officers from the State Council for Arts and Culture as well as the Film and Video Censors Board, said six communities have been identified in the first phase of the implementation of the programme.
She listed the LGAs to start the programme as Epe, Badagry, Ikorodu, Oshodi /Isolo, Eti Osa and Surulere, adding that the establishment of the Community-Based Tourism Unit under the Research and Development Department of the Ministry, was in line with the State’s Tourism Masterplan and Policy.
She said that the Ministry has been directing its programmes and policies in line with the Master Plan and Policy, being the approved guiding documents for the activities of the Ministry in the next couple of years.
The Commissioner assured officials, who would be implementing the Masterplan at the community level under the Community-Based Tourism, of adequate support iof all necessary logistics.
Akinbile-Yussuf stated further that, the decision to commence the CBT at this period was to enable exploration, access and development of Tourism potentials such as Unique Cultural Practices, Tradition and Heritage within the Local Community.
“We want to initiate an agenda for the development and growth of domestic tourism, promote and market tourism internationally as contained in the Ministry’s Masterplan and Policy”.
On her part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Solomon Bonu, said that the Ministry will provide necessary work tools and incentives that would aid the effective discharge of duties by officers in the various communities.
He also encouraged the staffers to discharge their duties diligently and effectively so that the initiative can be extended to more local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary, Princess Adenike Adedoyin-Ajayi, disclosed that the Ministry expects the officers manning the CBT to come up with innovative ideas that will promote the development of Domestic Tourism in a bid to enhance local tourism.
According to her, the Ministry’s officials at the community level are to coordinate, liaise, raise public awareness and undertake activities that will encourage cultural heritage resuscitation and preservation, while also promoting tourism marketing via promotional campaigns, sponsorship and facilitating cultural and traditional events.