LAGOS – The Hotel and Personal Services Employers Association of Nigeria (HOPESEA) on Saturday appealed to hotel owners to comply with the Lagos State Hotel Licensing Law for the security of lives and property.
The association’s president, Mr Samuel Alabi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the law was a necessity in the light of existing security challenges across the country.
“This law will give operators the guidelines on how to operate their business successfully in keeping with the saying that `where there is no law, there is no offence’,” Alabi said.
The Lagos State Hotels Licensing Authority (LSHLA) on Sept. 23, 2013 gave a notice to tourism establishments in the state to register under the provisions of the State Hotel Licensing Law 2003.
Alabi said that the Lagos State Government should take legal action against establishments that failed to register with the authority.
“It is mandatory that all hospitality and tourism establishments operating within Lagos State get registered.
“The exercise will provide a database for planning, marketing and research.
“The Lagos State Hotel Licensing Law will help to sanitise the hospitality and tourism industry,” he explained.
Alabi said that such registration would make Lagos State the preferred destination for tourism, business and leisure in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.
“Hotel registration will provide accurate information to prospective clients on the quality of facilities available in every hotel and security,” he said.
He decried the multiple taxes and charges imposed on hotel proprietors, saying that it had adverse effect on their operations.
Alabi said that the charges by federal, state and local governments could destabilise many operators.
The president listed the taxes as consumption tax, value added tax, company income tax, withholding tax, health certificate, and waste operation permit.
He said that hotel operators were facing “daunting challenges” and that the association was losing members to harsh economic environment.
Alabi urged the relevant authorities to reverse the trend, explaining that multiple taxes had contributed to the increase in hotel charges. (NAN)
