By Onyinyechi Madubuike
The Anambra State Ministry of Culture Entertainment and Tourism, has directed all hotel owners, guest house operators, and apartment managers in the state to register with the ministry and become members of the state hotel association to enhance coordination within the hospitality industry.
The Commissioner for Culture, Mr Udoji Amedu, gave the directive during a meeting with hotel owners and stakeholders, explaining that the registration exercise would create a direct communication link between the government and hospitality operators through digital platforms such as WhatsApp and email.
According to the Commissioner, the initiative became necessary to address challenges associated with poor coordination, inadequate data on hotel operations, and illegal revenue collection by unauthorized individuals and groups.
Speaking during the meeting, the Director of Hotels, Rev. Barr. Nwikwu Fredrick, disclosed that Anambra State currently has between 570 and 600 hotels, including both locally and foreign-owned establishments, operating across the state.
One of the stakeholders, Mr. Obumeke Ejinkeonye, emphasized the need for accurate data on all hotels in the state, noting that the association had only recently concluded a court case two days before the meeting.
He stressed that proper identification of hotels would strengthen collaboration between operators and the government.
Another hotel owner, Mr Obinna Okpala, highlighted several challenges confronting the industry, including multiple taxation, touting, inconsistent revenue collection, and rising operational costs. He appealed to the government to support hotel operators with infrastructure such as solar energy systems, CCTV surveillance facilities, and improved security, while also reviewing land policies affecting the sector.
Also in his contribution, Barr. Ugochukwu Aduilieje, called on the Commissioner to facilitate a meeting between hotel operators and Governor Chukwuma Soludo. He expressed concern over the lack of government patronage for registered hotels and advocated for mandatory operational licensing to improve the image and standards of the hospitality industry.
Responding, Commissioner Udoji, assured stakeholders of the ministry’s commitment to addressing their concerns and reiterated the importance of maintaining cordial relationships with host communities. He directed all hotel operators to comply with the registration requirement without delay.
The meeting ended with hotel owners expressing appreciation to the Commissioner for the engagement and pledging their support towards strengthening collaboration between the government and hospitality operators in Anambra State.
Onyinyechi is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.
