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.
