Anambra State Government has directed hotel proprietors and owners of hospitality industry operating without registration, to kindly register with their Anambra State Identification Number at the sum of two thousand naira and as well obtain operational licence.
The Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Mr. Don Onyenji, gave the directive while interacting with hotel proprietors and owners of hospitality facilities at the Professor Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka.
The meeting which addressed issues of enumeration and validation of hotel licenses as well as security attracted the Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Chief Chikodi Anara, and the Chairman of Anambra Internal Revenue Service, Mr Richard Madiebo.
Mr Onyenji expressed worry that many hotels in the state are operating without operational licence and registration, saying that the Soludo government will not tolerate such.
He said that to have a smart megacity that will lead to a prosperous nation, every hospitality industry must have a license to operate according to international tourism and hospitality standards, while disclosing that an office will be opened in Anambra State International Passenger and Cargo Airport, Umueri, for people to know the hospitality facilities in the state for easy accessibility.
Mr Onyenji who further said that tourism is the major revenue earner for many countries, urged the hotel proprietors to assist the government to make the state a suitable environment where they would operate with ease.
In the area of security, the Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Chief Chikodi Anara, urged the hotel proprietors to always submit their manifest to security agencies concerned on daily basis in case of fraudulent activities and emergencies.
Chief Anara, who said that security of life and property is one of the key agenda of the government, asked hotel proprietors to support the government in order to create an environment for their businesses to thrive, while adding that security is fundamental to their business operations and development.
For the Chairman of Anambra Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Madiebo, the hotel proprietors should pay their tax and levies, adding that with the tax, the government will accelerate development of the state.
He urged them to always file in their reports on or before the last day of the year, as failure to do so attracts the sum of five hundred thousand naira.
On his part, a consultant to the Ministry of Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, Mr. Chidi Kanu added that as enshrined in the Anambra State Tourism and Hospitality Law, any hotel operating without license will be shut down.
A hotel proprietor, Mr. Chigozie Legharia complained about exorbitant tax payment while Comrade Okey Uche, called for the law guiding the hospitality industry in the state to be made available to them.
Comments are closed for this post.