Anambra State Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Indigenous Artworks, Culture and Tourism, Dr Christian Madubuko has embarked on a familiarisation tour of some hotels in the state.
The visit according to the commissioner was to establish cordial relationship between hotel owners/managers and the state government.It would also help to ascertain the level of compliance in maintaining COVID-19 protocols and to know the areas in the hospitality industry that require government intervention.Before now, there has not been cordial relationship between government and hoteliers, but now that I am here, I want to establish an honest and pragmatic relationship.We also want to identify the challenges facing hoteliers with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world and to know the areas the government can assist.
One of the visions of Gov. Willie Obiano is to create employment for the youths; the hospitality industry is doing well in that aspect.Security is paramount in hotels, like in overseas, you must book a hotel with your international passport, drivers licence or National Identity card for ease of identification in case of crime,’’ the commissioner saidDr Madubuko adds: “here in Anambra, only a few hotels observe this, which results in some persons using fake names to access hotels; such will be stopped in order to enhance security,They are complying with the COVID-19 protocols but we need 100 per cent compliance to ensure that the spread of the virus is curtailed,’’ he said.Dr Madubuko, then, praised the efforts of Gov. Obiano, Commissioner for Health and other members of COVID-19 team for their efforts at combating the disease.
Anambra is the lowest in COVID-19 records in the country because of the efforts of the state government in curtailing the spread.Over the past two weeks, no person from Anambra has contracted the virus; then I can say for certain that Anambra state is doing very well in the management of COVID-19 pandemic.’’General Manager, De Geo Gold Hotels, Mr Chigozie Azubuike commended the commissioner for visiting the hotel, noting that he was the first tourism commissioner to do so.He appealed to the government through the ministry to look into multiple taxation levied: this is to enable their businesses to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.He urged the government to sensitise people, with shops on Club Road on dangers of radiation from high tension cables under which they carry on their businesses.
People should be enlightened that when one uses telephones under high tension, this is capable of increasing radiation that adversely affects the body systems.The Manager, Parktonian Hotels, Mr Stephen Okorie called on the government to unify all its taxes as one as well as eliminate illegal tax collectors from the system.While at Mayroses Hotels, the Manager, Mr Ifeanyi Nwaokoye noted that the government should assist them by providing constant electricity power supply as well as good access roads to the hotels.
We are spending a lot to fuel our generators in running our business and this is not good enough for us. We need government support on this.Government can also give us palliatives, no matter how little to help to boost our business, which has been badly affected by COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.The hotels visited include De Geo Gold, Parktonian and Mayroses. (MOI)
