The Oyo State government says its renewed drive to bring all hospitality businesses into the tax system aims to improve data collection and ensure proper coordination for security purposes.

The State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism Development, Wasiu Olatunbosun, stated this on Tuesday in Ibadan at the Tourism and Hospitality conference, organised by the ministry.

According to Mr Olatunbosun, most hospitality operators in the state are not registered, while those who are registered do not pay their dues regularly.

He said that this was significantly affecting revenue generation in the sector.

“The engagement we are having today is the first of a three-stage process.

“The stages are identification, cooperation and enforcement, which will commence next month,” Mr Olatunbosun said.

The commissioner urged all hospitality businesses to cooperate with the government and submit monthly figures of customers who patronise them.

He added that the data would help populate records at the Bureau of Statistics and aid security coordination across the state.

Mr Olatunbosun stressed that a properly documented hospitality sector would not only boost the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) but also make it easier for security agencies to track movements and respond promptly to incidents.

The commissioner said the identification stage would involve profiling all facilities across the 33 local government areas, while the enforcement stage would target defaulters who fail to register or remit dues after the cooperation window.

Also speaking at the event, the lawmaker representing the Oyo East/Oyo West State Constituency, Rahman Olorunpoto, reiterated the state House of Assembly’s commitment to partner with the executive arm to build a secure, data-driven and business-friendly tourism sector.

He added that the assembly would provide the necessary legislative backing to ensure that tourism thrives while also protecting lives and property.

The interactive session drew hospitality stakeholders, including representatives from hotels, lounges, nightclubs, eateries and other related businesses.

(NAN)