Grace Akpan
As momentum gathers on Tourism development in Akwa Ibom, the State Government is to undertake hotels grading and training of Tour and hospitality industry operators.
The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the State, Dr. Anieti Udofia, made this position known at the Hotels management and Tourism Board, HTB, Ewet Housing, Uyo, recently, during his ongoing tour of Parastatals under his supervision.
Akwa’Ibom Gov’t. to Grade Hotels
According to Dr. Anieti Udofia, the exercise which will be of great benefit to tourists coming into the State, is part of tourism roadmap, in keeping with international best practises in Tourism development.
He said, with hotels grading, tourists and guests arriving the state, will have first hand information on the different categories of hotels operating in the state, to provide a guide on where to lodge, with regards to the size of their pockets and expectations of the accommodation of their choice.
In addition o his, the Tourism Commissioner said, hotels grading will also serve as a basis in the assessment of the internally generated revenue profile expected of these hospitality facilities, as major stakeholders in the tourism development of the state.
In the same vein, training is to be mounted for Tours and Hospitality Industry operators in the State, including: Front Desk Officers at the Victor Attah International Airport, VAIA, Airport Taxi Drivers and other frontline Transporters to put them on sound footing on ways to interact with tourists and guests in the State, as their good disposition, mannerism and ettiquete, are of great fortune to the image of Akwa Ibom State.
Udofia stressed the need for these key operators of the Hospitality industry to be fully abreast of the ARISE Agenda, so that it can be diffused in their interaction with visitors as they are expected to be seen as ambassadors of the State.
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He reminded all that, the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno is from the hospitality industrý and therefore is in full support of this training, as the Governor knows the import of the exercise to the development of tourism in the state.
The Cmmissioner therefore tasked the management of the Hotels management and Tourism Board, HTB, to collaborate with the Ministry to ensure that these government plans are actualized.
Receiving the Tourism Commissioner and his entourage, the Director in-charge of the Board, Sir Ekan Afangide, expressed the readiness to collaborate with the Ministry for the accomplishment of the plans geared at tourism development in the State.
Accompanying the Honourable Commissioner on the tour were: the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Grace Akpan, the HSA and SSA to the Governor on Tourism, Mrs. Ime Udo and Mrs. Imaobong Zoe, respectively as well as Directors in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
