Tourism

Hotel investor counts losses, as COVID-19 threatens worker’s retention

Published

6 years ago

November 12, 2020

By Ebere Chibuzor

Hotel owners and investors in Nigeria are reportedly battling with the frustration of surviving the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic since early March 2020, as they are beginning to count their losses while muting the idea of relieving most of their workers to keep business afloat.

They lament that hotel patronage has significantly dropped to a record low thereby affecting their earnings. Owners of some of these tourism establishment in the country have sought all means of keeping their businesses alive while retaining staff but the negative impact of the pandemic has dealt a huge blow on them.

Blessing Clifford, an investor in the industry, in a chat with our correspondent recently told The Trending News that hotel business in Nigeria, especially in the cities, have suffered tremendous hit, thereby suggesting that government at all levels should come to the aids of investors by offering them tax break and other major incentives so that they can gather enough momentum to effectively run their businesses.

She expressed worry over government officials’ attitudes towards tax collection from hotel operators. She noted that since patronage has dropped significantly, the government at all levels need to show some sympathy towards operators.

Clifford who is also the General Manager, Britannia Hotel and Suites, Lagos claimed that such development would support hoteliers to remain afloat in this difficult times. She specifically charged the government to reduce Consumption Tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) so as to enable the sector retain sizable numbers of workers, according her, it is the responsibility of the government to offer tax rebate and palliatives to these private sector at a period of global pandemic.

Discussing how she has managed to survived the aftermath of the pandemic, she disclosed that her background as a scientist gave her an edge over other competitors. She said, “As soon as the management team got hint about the arrival of covid-19 pandemic in the country, we quickly shutdown the hotel even before instruction from the Lagos state government on closing business establishment within the state. We were fast about doing the needful and so as not to expose our guests to the pandemic.

“We observed and still observing all precautionary measures as directed by the government. As its currently stands, we are doing rooms spacing. This is how it works, among the 31 rooms, we intentionally do not use the whole 31 rooms due to the love for our guests and we do not want them to be exposed to the virus, every staff were taken to the Government approved test centres and were certified safe, they were employed and deployed them to various departments.

She however noted that the prospect of hospitality industry in Nigeria is high because Nigerian are in the look out for good hotels. So the business is lucrative but had recently been affected by the recent outbreak of the novel pandemic.

“Today, we are recording low occupancy, this has joined other numerous challenges including epileptic power supply.

She advised the government to focus more on maintaining tourism facilities spread across the country including the National Arts Theater and reputable cultural festivals including the Argungi fishing festival that have continued to serve as income earner.

Speaking about some of factors that made Britannia Hotel a delight Clifford said, “Britannia hotel offers wide range of services such as laundering, internet, sight seeing and also have facilities like VIP bar, bush bar, restaurant as well.

” With its serene environment in Ajao Estate, Lagos, our hotel uniquely offers in-house guests and fun seekers touch of home away from home services.

“We train and retrain our staff. And in Britannia we do not joke with our staff welfare.

“Security is paramount and we have both internal and external security and so there is zero tolerance for any form of crime or criminality activities.

In a concluding chat with our correspondent, she revealed that tourism industry must be given topmost priority due to its ability to generate more revenue for the country.

International

Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland

Published

1 week ago

September 11, 2026

Hamdalat Bisiriyu

Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland

A holiday trip in Switzerland has ended in tragedy after a coach carrying 45 Dutch adults overturned in the eastern part of the country, killing five people and injuring the remaining passengers.

The crash occurred on Thursday afternoon on the road linking Susch and Zernez in the Graubünden region. Police said the vehicle went off the roadway while passing through an area where construction work was taking place before overturning.

Three of those injured are in serious condition, while another 37 people sustained less severe injuries. The driver, who is also Dutch, survived the crash but was among those taken for medical treatment.

Five Dead After Coach Carrying Dutch Tourists Overturns in Switzerland

News

166 nations to attend UN tourism conference in Lagos

Published

4 years ago

September 25, 2022

Trends Admin

Delegates from 166 member countries of the United Nations (UN) World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) are billed to participate in its 2022 conference scheduled to hold in Lagos between November 14 and 16.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known on Saturday in Lagos.

National tourism and culture organisations, international organisations, destination management organisations and stakeholders from the public and private sectors are expected at the conference.

Also expected to participate are civil society organisations working on tourism, cultural and creative industries and the media.

Mohammed told a news conference that delegates would include the UNWTO top executives, officials and experts led by the secretary-general, ministers and officials of tourism, culture and arts ministries of member states.

There would be two parallel experts’ workshops, a seminar on tourism and the creative industry and a conference on linking tourism, culture and the creative industry.

The minister noted that there would also be exhibitions on gastronomy, fashion, movie, music, visual arts and more, as well as a special programme on the creative industry tagged “A Day with Nollywood.’’

“According to the UNWTO, tourism is an activity in which the visitors’ essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible attractions and products in a destination.

“It has positive socio-economic impact, preserves cultural, historical heritage and facilitates harmony and understanding among people.

“The organisation described the creative industry, which includes advertising, architecture, arts and crafts, design, film, video, photography, music, performing arts, and publishing, as the lifeblood of the creative economy.

“It says it is also a growth driver for sustainable development,’’ the minister said. (NAN)

News

FG: We’re investigating airport officials helping travellers evade COVID-19 requirements

Published

5 years ago

September 28, 2021

Trends Admin

The federal government says it is investigating reports of corrupt airport officials who take bribes from travellers and help them evade COVID-19 quarantine requirements.

Speaking on Monday during the national briefing of the presidential steering committee (PSC) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), said the government has taken note of the challenges facing travellers with regards to COVID-19 requirements.

There have been recent reports of corrupt airport officials who help passengers travelling of the country evade COVID-19 test and also procure fake vaccine cards for the travellers.

In December, undercover investigation at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, had exposed how government officials forged COVID-19 test results in exchange for bribes.

“The PSC has taken note of the challenges raised by travelers that visit the National International Travel Portal in compliance with travel protocols,” Mustapha said.

“It has similarly noted with dismay, fraudulent activities perpetuated at our international airports by on-duty staff, who extort money out of those who equally wish to evade quarantine requirement. The authorities are conducting necessary investigation in to various reports received.

“Notable progress is still being made in the area of vaccine. Over 3.5m doses of Pfizer is being expected from the US Government this month while about 4m doses of Astrazeneca is being expected early next month. Nigeria will be receiving over 1m doses of J&J shipments on a monthly basis. The PSC is committed to access enough vaccines for the 70% eligible persons in the country in record time.”

Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the presidential steering committee on COVID-19, said there’s need for more caution among Nigerians despite the declining global COVID-19 cases.