In a strategic move to standardize Hospital industry of the state, the Abia State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a private firm, Amena Tourism and Hospitality Innovative Technology, for the Grading and Classification of Hospitality industries across the state.
Speaking while performing the exercise at the Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Umuahia, the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Chief Mathew Ekwuribe said that the exercise will enhance traveler confidence by providing consistent hospitality standards that assure both domestic and international visitors of quality and reliability.
Chief Ekwuribe while also noting that the exercise which will take the team round the state is expected to last between 4-5months and would also improve service quality by raising the bar for accommodation services and encouraging healthy competition within the sector.
“This is going to be a landmark project of His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti OFR, to ensure that those who are coming to our state, the travelers, feel very safe.
“It will bring the hotels to a standard and also build confidence in anyone coming to Abia state that they are coming to meet what they expect in terms of quality”.
“So this exercise is going to last may be for four or five months. We are going to go round the state to ensure that everything in the hospitality industry is picked up and documented.
“It’s actually a digital grading and classification with their location, pictures and every other thing. And at the end of the day, you will be able to book every hotel that will meet our standard to be on that platform online in Abia state when you want to come” Hon. Ekwuribe assured.
He also announced that the exercise when completed would foster economic growth by strengthening the local tourism industry, creating direct and indirect jobs, and stimulating enterprise in related sectors including transportation, food, crafts and cultural exhibitions.
According to Chief Ekwuribe, the exercise will equally boost security and compliance by enabling the government to maintain a verified register of graded Hotels, thereby reducing risks for travelers and ensuring proper regulation of operators.
Also Speaking, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Abia state, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna SAN, while thanking the team for the level of cooperation given to the state legal team while processing the service level agreement, noted that the formal signing of the MoU marks a new era for the hospitality industry of the state.
“I know that as we proceed to the implementation phase after the signing, it’s going to be swift. And to ensure that Abia state will have a better hospitality environment where there is a good database to improve security and ensure that Abia state has transparency in the realm of the hospitality business” Barr. Uwanna stated.
In his remarks, the managing Director of Amena Tourism and Hospitality Innovation Technology Solution, Mr Edosa Eghobamien, described the partnership with the Abia state government on Hospitality sector reforms as a model that should be replicated across Nigeria, adding that he is impressed with the level of development in the state.
Mr Eghobamien while commending the level of security in the state, said the project exceeded existing ECOWAS and Nigerian Tourism Development Authority standards by fully integrating technology into hospitality grading and classification, adding that the digital application being deployed for the project was developed entirely by the company’s team.
He said the initiative would promote standardization, boost business for hospitality operators, and increase government revenue, describing it as a win-win arrangement and assured that a comprehensive final report on the project would be presented to the governor at the conclusion of the exercise.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Barr. Mrs Chibuzo Ehiemere, the Director in-charge of Abia State Tourism Board, Lady Kate Emezue, staff of Amena Tourism and Hospitality Innovative Technology, among other top government officials witnessed the signing of the MoU.
