Ministry Directs Hotels to Register with State Association
|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 Anambra State Hotel Association to strengthen coordination and regulation of the hospitality industry.
The Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Mr. Udoji Amedu, gave the directive during a meeting with hotel owners and other stakeholders in Awka.
He said the registration exercise would establish a direct communication channel between the government and hospitality operators through digital platforms such as WhatsApp and email.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at addressing poor coordination within the sector, the absence of reliable data on hospitality businesses and the activities of unauthorized individuals engaged in illegal revenue collection.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director of Hotels in the ministry, Fredrick Nwikwu, said Anambra currently has between 570 and 600 hotels, comprising both locally and foreign-owned establishments.
He noted that obtaining accurate data on operators would improve planning, regulation and engagement between the government and the industry.
Also speaking, a stakeholder, Obumeke Ejinkeonye, stressed the importance of maintaining a comprehensive database of hotels across the state.
He noted that the hotel association had only concluded a court case two days earlier and said proper identification of hotels would strengthen collaboration between operators and the government.
Another hotel owner, Obinna Okpala, identified multiple taxation, touting, inconsistent revenue collection and rising operational costs as major challenges confronting the industry.
He appealed to the state government to support operators with infrastructure, including solar power systems, CCTV surveillance facilities and improved security, while also reviewing land policies affecting hospitality businesses.
In his remarks, Ugochukwu Aduilieje urged the commissioner to facilitate a meeting between hotel operators and Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
He expressed concern over what he described as inadequate government patronage of registered hotels and advocated mandatory operational licensing to improve standards and enhance the image of the hospitality industry.
Responding, Amedu assured stakeholders of the ministry's commitment to addressing their concerns and strengthening collaboration with operators.
He also urged hotel owners to maintain cordial relationships with their host communities and directed all operators to comply with the registration requirement without delay.
Tags:#Anambra Hotels#Chukwuma Soludo#Hospitality Industry
Posted by FRONTLINE AFRICA
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