Lagos Lauds Tourism Drive of Nigeria Beer Festival

By Dipo Olowookere

Acting Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos State, Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, has stated that the just concluded Nigeria Beer Festival has enhanced the tourism potentials of the state and also broadened the perception of foreigners on the entertainment culture in the country.

Mrs Akinsola made this submission at the inaugural edition of the festival organised by On and One Event (001) Limited and supported by the state government. The week-long event was held at the Eko Atlantic City Waterfront, Victoria Island.

Mrs Akinsola, who commended the organisers for a well-planned event, stated that the Nigeria Beer Festival attracted visitors within and outside the country and “this has exposed the various tourist attractions of the state and the country to the world.”

“The organiser has added colour to the tourism potentials in the state. It demonstrated that like the world over, reputable organisations in the brewing industry can come together to showcase their products and also make our indigenous entertainment culture more attractive to foreigners present, and also those abroad,” she affirmed.

She added that the products displayed at the festival were also a testament to the fact that organisations in the country believed in upholding quality and standards.

“001 has through this event, brought to fore that Nigerian companies keep to best global practices by making quality their watchword,” Mrs Akinsola stated.

The event, according to her, attracted visitors from within and outside the country, to witness the glamour which it offers and it also sharpened their perception that the country has all it takes to attract tourists from across the globe.

Not a few Lagosians who attended the event also agreed that it was a time for fun, musical entertainment, business and an edge to boost tourism.

Historically, Lagos, referred to as the “City by the Lagoon”, boasts of 186 kilometres of shoreline, numerous beaches and water activities which serve as tourist attraction.

It is also an emerging mega-city with an ever-increasing international population, hence the many established high quality hotels which cater for the needs of the inhabitants as well as foreigners.