By TAIYE OLAYEMI/ADEYEMI ADELEYE

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) on Thursday warned hospitality operators to desist from encouraging noise pollution in their hotels, clubs, restaurants and others.

The General Manager, LASEPA, Dr Tunde Ajayi, gave the warning during a stakeholders engagement with the hospitality sector, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the programme was, Addressing Current Industry Challenges, Exploring Emerging Trends, Understanding Policy Framework and Unveiling Collaborative Opportunities Within the Entire Hospitality Value Chain.

Ajayi advised hospitality operators across the state to put in place soundproofing in any hospitality facility where music was put to use, to guide against noise pollution.

He said the essence of the soundproofing was to ensure that noise did not filter out to disturb individuals around the facility.

It is our collective responsibility to protect the environment, a healthy environment is necessary for the growth of hospitality businesses.

Noise is a menace; people develop ear problems due to exposure to noise, but many dont know this.

We have 55 per cent permissible noise alert for residential areas in the day and 45 per cent at night. We have same for the hospitality facilities.

We want an environment without noise, so soundproof your environment. Also, we have always advised that no-smoke signals should be used in hospitality firms.

It can be embarrassing to expose visitors at hospitality facilities to cigarette smoke, rendering them secondary smokers, it can be dangerous to their health.

You also need to ensure a place is usually created for emission of generating set smoke. We all need to encourage a healthy environment, he said.

Also speaking, Mr Lanre Mojola, General Manager, Lagos State Safety Commission, emphasised that safety remained key in the hospitality industry, saying operators must build a system and facility that is absolutely safe.

He called on operators to take leadership and be committed to safety of tourists to foster zero accident, injury and fatalities.

There must be a system in place to take away all risks. All facilities must be safety-compliant and this begins with each one of us. Safety is a collective thing and all of us must put on our safety caps, Mojola said.

On his part, Olabisi Adelabu, General Manager, Lagos State Parking Authority, said that hotels and restaurants must have adequate parking space in their facilities.

Stressing the need for all practitioners to be responsible in all things park-related, Adelabu said that the authority was not out to disrupt tourism business but to ensure businesses do not infringe on the rights of others.

Mr Sola Giwa, the Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transport, related vibrant hospitality industry to efficient transport systems, saying that operators must adhere to all transport and parking rules and regulations.

There is no way you can have a vibrant tourism business without transportation, he said.

Giwa urged operators to be committed to the provision of adequate parking space as well as training of their parking officers.

Earlier, Mr Solomon Bonu, Chairman, Lagos State House Committee on Tourism, Arts and Culture, commended the efforts of the private operators in the hospitality industry.

Bonu urged them to channel their energy toward working with government to enact laws that would spur the growth of the industry.

Mr Ayodele Subair, Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), hinted on the states plan to harmonise taxes and levies for ease of payment for hospitality operators.

Payment of taxes and levies should not be seen as a burden, these are necessary to put in place the needed infrastructure development and qualitative social services, he said.

Responding, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, said: I want you all to know that the ministry will continue to engage you, even in major decision formulation.

The essence of this engagement session is to ensure Lagos continues to take its pride of place as a choice destination for tourists. (NAN)

PHOTO:Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture with other stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industry