By Wale Ojo-Lanre
The Director-General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, has called for a balanced regulatory framework, stable policy environment and stronger collaboration between government and hoteliers as essential conditions for sustainable hospitality growth in the South West region of Nigeria.
Ojo-Lanre made the call while delivering a keynote address at the 5th Biennial Annual General Meeting of the South West Hoteliers Association held in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The AGM, which had as its theme, “Regulatory Framework and Policy: Creating a Conducive Environment for Hospitality Growth in the South West Region of Nigeria,” brought together hoteliers, tourism practitioners, investors, government officials and stakeholders in the hospitality value chain.
Welcoming participants to Ekiti State on behalf of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, Ojo-Lanre described the theme as timely, strategic and fundamental, stressing that no serious hospitality economy can grow in an atmosphere of policy confusion, arbitrary enforcement, unclear standards and hostile regulation.
According to him, hospitality thrives where there is order, investor confidence, predictable policy, fair taxation, professional enforcement and genuine partnership between government and operators.
He noted that regulation should not be seen as punishment or harassment, but as a necessary instrument for order, safety, service quality, investor confidence, visitor protection and sustainable growth.
“No sector grows sustainably in confusion. No investor commits serious capital where policy is unstable. Hospitality requires order. Tourism requires confidence. Investment requires predictability. Growth requires partnership,” he said.
Ojo-Lanre disclosed that Ekiti State has deliberately placed tourism and hospitality on a firm legal and policy foundation through the Ekiti State Hospitality Law of 2022, the Ekiti State Tourism Policy and the Ekiti State Tourism Development Master Plan.
He explained that the documents were designed not as ceremonial papers but as working instruments to guide tourism development, regulate hospitality practice, attract investment, strengthen destination management, empower communities and position Ekiti as a serious tourism economy.
The DG commended the Hoteliers Association for participating in the process that produced the Tourism Policy and Tourism Development Master Plan, saying their involvement gave the documents practical industry value and ensured that the voice of operators, investors and practitioners was properly captured.
He said Ekiti’s tourism direction under Governor Oyebanji is not a government monologue but a stakeholder-driven framework built on consultation, dialogue and shared responsibility.
“When government and operators sit together to shape the future of the sector, compliance becomes easier, trust becomes stronger and growth becomes more achievable,” he said.
Ojo-Lanre described the hospitality industry as “the living room of tourism,” saying no destination can grow beyond the quality of its hospitality system.
He said tourists may be attracted by waterfalls, mountains, festivals, heritage sites, medical facilities, conferences and business opportunities, but they stay, spend and return because of the quality of hospitality they receive.
He further described hoteliers as image makers, employers of labour, local economic stimulators and indispensable partners in destination development.
Highlighting the tourism strength of the South West, Ojo-Lanre said the region remains one of Nigeria’s richest tourism belts, blessed with history, culture, sacred groves, commerce, mountains, waterfalls, festivals, cuisine, music, universities, medical institutions and vibrant cities.
He, however, stated that the region must now build the structure that converts attractions into arrivals, arrivals into spending, spending into jobs and jobs into prosperity.
“That structure is policy. That structure is regulation. That structure is collaboration. That structure is an enabling environment,” he declared.
The DG said Ekiti State, under Governor Oyebanji, has moved tourism from wishful thinking to structured planning by placing its natural, cultural, historical, medical, educational and adventure assets within a clear development framework.
He listed some of the state’s tourism assets to include Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort, Arinta Waterfall, Abanijorin Rock of Wonders, Oke Sagbonke Mountain of Clouds, Osun Igede, Ilupeju-Usi ancient tunnel, Ogun Onire Grove, Ugele Rock Shelter Settlement and several other heritage treasures.
Ojo-Lanre added that attractions alone cannot create tourism prosperity unless supported by quality hotels, transportation, safety, tour operations, interpretation, digital visibility, investment, community participation, professional service delivery and policy stability.
He said the hospitality sector has a strong multiplier effect on the local economy, noting that when hotels grow, farmers, transporters, laundry operators, event decorators, musicians, artisans, security providers and youths all benefit.“One occupied hotel room can touch several pockets in one night,” he said.
Speaking further, Ojo-Lanre acknowledged the challenges confronting the hospitality industry, including rising energy costs, multiple taxation, limited access to finance, shortage of trained manpower, security concerns, poor maintenance culture and regulatory gaps.
He said a conducive environment for hospitality growth cannot be created by hoteliers alone or by government alone, but through joint commitment.
He urged government at all levels to provide policy clarity, infrastructure, security, investment incentives and fair regulation, while also calling on hoteliers to embrace compliance, quality service, proper documentation, trained personnel, hygiene, safety standards and professionalism.
He also urged hospitality associations to strengthen coordination, advocacy, self-regulation and constructive engagement with government.
Ojo-Lanre cautioned that a poor hotel experience can damage the image of an entire destination, pointing out that visitors often judge a state or region by the quality of hospitality they receive.
“A visitor who has a poor hotel experience may not say, ‘That hotel failed me.’ He may say, ‘Ekiti failed me.’ He may say, ‘The South West failed me.’ That is why service excellence must be taken seriously,” he said.
He assured the association that the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development is ready to work closely with hoteliers, describing them as stakeholders and co-builders of the tourism economy rather than spectators.
He said Ekiti is ready for tourism business, citing the state’s emerging airport opportunities, improving road infrastructure, modern bus terminal, health institutions, hills, caves, forests, waterfalls, heritage sites, hospitable people and supportive government as strong advantages.
Ojo-Lanre charged the South West Hoteliers Association to use the Ado-Ekiti AGM as a turning point for regional hospitality development.
He said the AGM should not only be remembered as a meeting hosted by Ekiti State, but as a platform where the South West hospitality industry resolved to move from survival to strategy, from complaints to constructive engagement, and from isolation to regional tourism integration.
He concluded that hospitality growth requires policy, policy requires consultation, regulation requires fairness, investment requires confidence and tourism prosperity requires partnership.