By Ifeyinwa Ogwo :
Ministry of Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism in collaboration with the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRs) and the Ministry of Homeland Affairs have urged hoteliers in the state to ensure that their facilities are registered with the Ministry of Culture, Entertainment and Tourism for documentation and classification.
This call was made in a meeting with the hoteliers at the Dora Akunyili Women Development Center, Agu-Awka.
The commissioner for Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Mr. Don Onyenji stressed the need for registration and enumeration, noting that it is for government to ascertain the number of hotels in the state and also regulate their activities in line with the International standard.
He said, “we want tourists or visitors coming into the state to feel safe, enjoy any of our hospitality outfits, and for us to equally monitor them for security reasons.
“Tourism is the major striving industry in the world and those who enjoy its benefits are you, people because whoever comes into the state may lodge in your hotels.
“Therefore, you must have an operational license as it is stated in our law; just as another profession such as medical services, engineering services, and others in the state does,” he said.
Commissioner Onyenji enjoined them to be observant of their guests, and report any illicit activities they observed surrounding them to avoid such activities denting their image and attracting government sanctions.
He informed them of the recent fraudulent act of the casino game operators, noting that they have been suspended for investigations to be conducted.
“We need to make our state a liveable, lovable, and prosperous smart city for Ndi Anambra and right now, we have embarked on inspection and enumeration of all hotels in the state.”
On his part, the Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Mr. Chikodi Anara noted that security is fundamental to the development of an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
He, therefore, enjoined everyone to take security matters very seriously in their outfits, noting that it is not only the business of the government but that of everybody through supporting government policies and reporting any unscrupulous activities around their areas to the government.
“Ensure you document the proper data of all guests whenever they check into your hotels and use your CCTV always to detect those with questionable characters,” he said.
The Chairman of AIRs, Mr. Richard Madiebo encouraged the hoteliers to pay their taxes noting that the government is using it for the development of the state.
“We have observed that some business enterprises do not pay tax and this is unacceptable. In the advanced world, if anyone averts tax, the person will be jailed and their taxes are much higher than what we pay here.
“Even the taxes paid in Lagos and some parts of the state in the federation is higher than what we pay here. The issue of paying your tax to the wrong hands is been addressed now.
“Do not pay cash to anybody, go to the bank and pay all your taxes,” he warned.
In addition, a consultant, Mr. Chidi Kanu clarified the difference between registration and having an operational license which he said is a license that permits every hospitality outfit to operate in the state.
He enjoined the hoteliers to ensure that their hotel is registered and revalidated.
The proprietor of Zigo hotels, Mr. Chigozie Bright appealed to the state government to cut down some of the taxes accrued to them, noting that the taxations are affecting the growth of infant businesses.
