Badagry Convention and Visitors Bureau plans economic summit for 2017

Badagry Convention and Visitors Bureau has unveiled plans for the Badagry Econo0mic Summit, the Lagos Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference among other events lined up to promote and market the rich heritage of Badagry in 2017.

This development has become imperative so as to reposition Badagry as a tourism destination in Lagos.

Speaking during the monthly Forum of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET) in Lagos, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Badagry Convention and Visitors Bureau, Dr Fadipe Sewanu Ashamu said that the Bureau has also concluded arrangements to organise the Igbo Art and Culture International Festival and the Yoruba Conference Series in 2017 in Badagry.

He stated that the Bureau is set to market Badagry as a tourism destination to the rest of the world and to serve as a focal point for coordination of all tourism activities in Badagry.

He pointed out that what is obtainable in other developed nations of the world is the convention and visitors bureau, adding that this was what informed the establishment of the Badagry Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The focus is to make Badagry a destination and to create programmes that will make Badagry worth visiting and investing, Dr Ashamu noted.

He listed other functions of the bureau to include, the provision of services that will enhance quality of visitors experience, to provide leadership in expanding tourism opportunities in Badagry, to generate economic activities through visitors spending to the people of Badagry and environs, to serve as a catalyst and facilitator for tourism infrastructure development, to serve as a clearing house for all hospitality establishment in Badagry, attract investment opportunities to Badagry and encourage visitors to visit and enjoy the ambiance of natural, cultural and historical sites, including the hospitality of the people of Badagry.

He explained that the Badagry Economic Summit is expected to bring together stakeholders in Badagry economy to find ways of making Badagry the next economic hub in Lagos state, adding that speakers and investors are expected to deliver papers in the area of tourism, seaport development, logistics parks, oil sector and hospitality development.

On the Lagos hotel and Tourism Investment Conference, the managing director/Chief executive officer of the Badagry Convention and Visitors Bureau noted that the state of Lagos is long overdue for annual hotel and tourism conference.

“The theme for this conference that is scheduled for 24th and 25 of August is making Lagos the preferred hospitality and tourism hub in Africa.

“The purpose of this important conference is to further create awareness about the industry and bring visitors and investors not only to Badagry, but as well as the state at large.’’