Lagos Govt Intensifies Move To Emerge Global Tourism Destination

Amid intensified efforts to position Lagos state as a leading global tourism destination, the special adviser to the governor on tourism, arts and culture, Idris Aregbe, and the deputy high commissioner of Canada, Carlos Rojas-Arbulú have stressed the need for better packaging and enhanced storytelling around the state’s tourism assets.

The duo spoke at a meeting with stakeholders from local governments and grassroots communities, tagged “Experience The Best of Lagos,” held in the Victoria Island axis of the state.

The stakeholders’ engagement is coming as Lagos prepares to leverage the 2026 ember season to deepen its tourism economy and attract more domestic and international visitors.

In his address in the stakeholders meeting, Aregbe said the state government’s mandate was to create an environment in which tourism, arts and culture could thrive while ensuring that attractions spread across the state were identified, developed and promoted.

He charged officials in the councils to take ownership of tourism assets within their jurisdictions, describing them as the “keys to the door of tourism” in their respective communities.

“My mandate is to ensure that tourism is boosted in Lagos to become the best. We need to continue to create a better environment in the tourism, art, and culture sector,” Aregbe said.

He noted that Lagos had 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), arguing that the structure provided the state with a formidable grassroots network for discovering and marketing tourism attractions.

According to him, many attractions that residents consider ordinary could become major tourist destinations if properly packaged and promoted.

He urged council authorities to identify locations with tourism potential and work with the state government to develop them into experiences capable of attracting visitors.

Aregbe said the state government was ready to collaborate with the councils to make Lagos a preferred tourism destination throughout the year.

He stressed that Lagos must move beyond the perception that tourism was primarily about entertainment, noting that the sector had strong links with commerce, arts, food and other areas of the economy.

The Special Adviser said the state was already witnessing increased tourist activity beyond the traditional December period, with visitors booking hotels months ahead of the ember season and some extending their stay after the festive period.

He, however, said Lagos needed to convert that growing interest into a sustainable tourism economy by giving visitors compelling reasons to stay longer and return.

“We need to make the 2026 ember season the beginning of a massive turnaround in the country, particularly Lagos tourism.

“We must be able to hold the tourists and give them an unforgettable experience that will make them either spend more days than expected or tick Lagos for their next tourism destination for the next season.”

Aregbe further called for continuous innovation, saying tourists were attracted to destinations that consistently offered new experiences.

The Canadian envoy, Rojas-Arbulú, backed the call for a stronger global tourism strategy, saying Lagos possessed significant value that could be converted into tourism revenue if properly packaged for international visitors.

Speaking from his experience of living in Lagos for two years, the envoy described his experience in the city and Nigeria as “transformational.”

He said many experiences that Lagos residents regarded as normal could be fascinating discoveries for foreigners and should therefore be developed into commercially viable tourism products.

According to him, Lagos must focus on three key areas – value, structure and narrative – if it wants to compete effectively for international tourists.

He urged the state to package its tourism attractions in a manner that speaks directly to the expectations of international visitors.

“It’s understanding that you hold value; you have to find a way to package it in a way that speaks to that international visitor,” he said.