Imo State Tourism Board in conjunction with Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts has commenced enumeration and recertification of tourism facilities and establishments in the state.
The exercise is in line with Imo State Tourism Corporation ( Amendment) Law, 2017, and the Imo State Tourism Law No 12 of 1981.
The laws provide for enumeration, classification, registration, licensing, regulation, promotion and establishment and maintenance of data base of all tourism related operations and facilities in Imo State and for their periodic recertification.
The Public Relations Officer PRO of the Imo State Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ben Uwakwe disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
According to him, all tourism facilities and establishments in Imo State are mandatorily expected to collect, fill and return necessary forms to the Imo State Tourism Board and pay appropriate recertification fees to designated treasury single account, TSA.
He added that the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts in collaboration with the Board will inspect the facilities and establishments and present certificates of recertification or operational license to those that measure up to standards.
He also disclosed that members of staff of the Tourism Ministry and those of the Board will visit all tourism facilities and establishments including hotels, guest houses, motels, hostels, inns, event centres, leisure and recreation parks, clubs, arenas, open spaces and tourists camps for enumeration, inspection and profiling.
Uwakwe listed other facilities to include restaurants, fast food, eatries, catering houses, night clubs, music bars, lounges, cinemas, film houses, viewing centres, travel/tours/transit companies, and any other facility or establishment operating in tourism and hospitality industry.
He said the enumeration and recertification exercise will provide the baseline data needed for effective tourism planning, development and promotion; help in creating a register of recognized tourism facilities; enable government monitor compliance with basic standards in the tourism and hospitality industry; and drive positive tourism promotion and tourism value chain marketing, among other benefits.
It was gathered that the recertification exercise is mandatory for all operators of tourism and hospitality facilities and establishments of any type in Imo State and uncertified and unlicensed facilities or establishments will be closed down.
The exercise began on Monday, September 12, 2022, and would be continuous.
