The Nasarawa State Government says arrangements have been concluded to commence electronic registration of hotels across the state to reposition the hospitality industry for better service delivery.
Mr Dogo Shammah, State Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, said this during a meeting with hotel operators in the state, on Friday in Keffi Local Government Area.
The tour was to kick-start the e-registration, grading and standardisation of all existing hotels, night clubs, fast foods, cinema and recreational centres in the state for easy identification of business premises.
Shammah said that the state has identified tourism as a front runner to transform the state economy if fully harnessed.
The e-registration initiative was part of the state plans to collaborate with the private sector to achieve accelerated economic growth and sustainable development through well articulated programmes and policies.
Nasarawa state occupied an enviable tourism destination given its vast potentials in terms of tourism attraction and the proximity to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Shammah, while commending the contributions of hotel operators in the development of the state economy, solicited their support and cooperation for the success of the exercise.
Mr Yakubu Yusuf, Chairman, Keffi Local Government chapter of the Nigeria Hotels Association, appealed to the state Government to grant hotels three years tax relief to enable them survive the economic hardship occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said before the COVID-19, the hospitality industry in the state witnessed steady growth that culminated into employment of hundreds of youths.
Yusuf said the association was appealing to the state Government to set up centralise single tax account for hotels and allow the association to collect and remit to government.
