Desmond Elliot leads Lagos House Tourism Committee to La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort written by wale Ojo Lanre
Nigerian Tribune , Wednesday ,April 20 , 2016
April 20, 2016
•It is a synergy of purpose —Wanle Akinboboye •Legislation is fundamental to tourism advancement —Desmond
The Lagos State House of Assembly is proving to be purposefuii legislature which is willing, to effect and inject legislative etiquettes and strings needed to reinforce tourism development in the state.
This proactive stance was flashed recently when the House Committee on Culture, Arts and Tourism, led by the Chairman, Honourable Desmond Elliot took a leave of the hallowed chamber and holed up in the ecotourism enclave of the La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Ikegun Village, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State.
For three days, 8th to 10th April, all the members of the Lagos House Committee on Culture, Arts and Tourism Committee converged on La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort and engaged its management, led by its President, Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye, in a strategic tourism debate, recorded as the first of its kind in Nigeria.
The meeting was structured in a three-dimensional format of interactions with sessions on aquatic ecotourism, tourism overview and business.
For the two days, the Desmond led Lagos House Committee were able to share experiences, analyse topical tourism issues, identify areas of challenges and had a comparative cross fertilisation of ideas on variables towards making the tourism sector vibrant with the team of La Campagne Tropicana beach resort.
After a series of sessions, the two parties put in place a sustainable tourism agenda, and first on the list is the lawmakers’ intention of stimulating a bill which will legalise and back the declaration of a 20 – kilometre area of the Lacampagne Tropicana Beach Resort as tourism zone.
Speaking after the tourism business engagement, Ambassador Akinboboye said, “what has taken place here between the members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Culture, Arts and Tourism Committee apart from being a first of its kind in the history of the nation, is a great leap for the tourism industry.
“This is because for the sector to move, the legislators must be conscious and curious about the industry. I am happy with the crop of the Honourable members in the Culture, Arts and Tourism Committee at the Lagos State for not being only curious, but also conscious and well abreast of the import of the tourism industry.”
Ambassador Akinboboye disclosed. “The Honourable members proved to us, during our engagement that they know their onions and ready and willing to do their best for the industry to grow.”
He revealed that, “We have been able to structure and initiate a Private Public Partnership (PPP) platform which is needed for tourism to move forward. We have designed an agenda which first will focus on and take tourism inventory or audit of Lagos State, particularly Ibeju – Lekki Tourism zone; set in motion, necessary bills that will engender proper enhancement of the sector, and ensure proper legislation are put in place.
Ambassador Akinboboye pointed out “This synergy is going to work. It is going to affect all aspects of tourism, but we are going to commence the revolution from the aquatic blessing of Lagos State. We are going to start from the easiest one, which is the ocean economy. We are looking at the economic benefits of the ocean of Lagos State. We are looking into how we can use tourism to bring attention to it. With 198kelometre beach property in Lagos, close to 216 kilometre of fresh water, a long stretch from Epe to Badagry, we are planning to cause a tourism economic revolution from tapping the ocean economy. We are going to tinker with water sport (kayaking) and park riding as never seen before. We are going to stimulate the sporting aspect of aquatic tourism and bring about economic development for the people of Lagos State and Nigeria”
He expressed optimism about the synergy saying, “Like I said earlier, we have commenced implementation already. Immediately an idea is muted and diagnosed, its implementation is started. What we need to do is to firm up and lock the loose ends. From my end, we are ready and have started creating the awareness. And to show you that the state is ready, remember, Lagos recently had a very successful marathon on land. Now, we want to have one on water in stages. You can imagine kayakers from Epe, all the way to Badagry. We’ll use that to bring attention. Kayaking is an individual sport and if you look at our riverine areas in Lagos, a lot of this kids grew up kayaking in local canoe, with paddles. I have watched them and I believe strongly that we will find olympic quality contestants once they are groomed and trained with techniques.”
Reinforcing this optimism, Hon. Elliot said, “We are here for a purpose. We are confident of our resolution and resolve to jointly give and enhance the tourism sector in Lagos State. We are going to start with the aquatic or ocean economy and by the virtue and responsibility placed on our shoulders, we will ensure the drafting and passing of necessary laws needed to boost and buffer the sector .”
He revealed, “We are going to make a formal report to the House about all we discussed here. We are going to liaise with the executive also because of the procedure of implementation.
“Our venturing into this ecotourism aquatic enclave called La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort has been so rewarding, both on the intellectual/business level and of relaxation.”
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