Bayelsa Tourism Devt & Hotel Licensing Agency Holds Interactive Session

The Bayelsa State Tourism Development and Hotel Licensing Agency has held a one-day stakeholders interactive and sensitization meeting at Golden Tulip hotel in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The Director General of the Bayelsa State Tourism Development and Hotel Licensing Agency, Mrs Oluseyi Ayamasaowei, said the stakeholders meeting was aimed at discussing government plans of registering all the hotels, restaurants, eateries, bars and clubs in Yenagoa metropolis.

Mrs. Asamasaowei stated that the state government is fully committed to boosting and utilizing its tourism and hospitality potentials and opportunities in the state.

“We want to make tourism attractive in Bayelsa State. The government wants to make our hospitality businesses to be standardized to be able to compete with the ones in other states or places.

“We really want to go into tourism development in the state, and we need to deal with the hospitality section because that is where people will stay, eat and drink when they visit our state.

“Hopefully, by March 2025, we will start the licensing. But before we start the licensing, we want everything to be in place, most especially CCTV in our hospitality facilities to ensure adequate security.

In his remark, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff (Deputy Governor’s office), Mr. Gowon Toruyouyei noted that it is a paradigm shift from an era of no regulation to an era of regulation.

Mr. Toruyouyei said the Bayelsa state government believes in regulations that are people-oriented and friendly.

He added that the partnership between the state government and hospitality business owners, is to create a conducive environment to work together for a better business environment.

Dignitaries who attended the programme are: Hon. Ayibanegiyefa Egba, Chairman Bayelsa State House of Assembly Committee on Tourism, Hon. John Alla, Commissioner For Tourism Development, Chairman of Hotel Owners Association, Chief Peretimi Oseke, and other stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality business.