Abia State launches hospitality grading exercise at no cost to hotels, bars, and restaurants to boost tourism and industry standards

The Abia State Government has announced that owners of hotels, bars, lounges, and restaurants in the state will not pay any fees for the upcoming hospitality grading and classification exercise.

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The announcement was made on Thursday by Chibuzo Ehiemere, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Aba.

The meeting, organised to reposition the state’s hospitality industry, followed a recent Memorandum of Understanding signed between the government and Amena Hospitality and Tourism Innovative Technology to digitise and standardise hospitality services across Abia.

Addressing stakeholders, Ehiemere reassured business owners that the grading exercise will be fully funded by the state.

“I know that the unspoken question in your hearts is, ‘How much is government going to ask you to pay?’ But His Excellency has decided that this grading will be fully funded by the state and not by you,” she said.

Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mathew Ekwuribe, highlighted Governor Alex Otti’s vision to unify and promote the hospitality sector.

“The main purpose of this grading is to bring all the hospitality industry together and expose them to travellers, so visitors can have confidence in where they are going to stay,” Ekwuribe explained.

He added that the initiative also aims to develop 55 natural heritage sites, including Azummiri River, Aro Waterfall, and giant caves, into tourist centres.

Edosa Eghobamien, Managing Director of Amena Hospitality and Tourism Innovative Technology, said the exercise would help establishments meet global best practices.

“The Hospitality and Tourism Grading and Classification is a systematic evaluation process assessing service delivery, facility infrastructure, operational efficiency, hygiene, safety, and customer experience benchmarks,” he said.

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Eghobamien noted that the initiative will enhance competitiveness, boost investor confidence, and position Abia State as a preferred tourism and hospitality destination in Nigeria and beyond.