Kaduna hoteliers want tax holiday

Jijiwon Akpovwovwo, secretary of the Kaduna State Hoteliers Association, has urged the state government to grant tax holiday for hotels in the state.

Akpovwovwo made the appeal when he spoke with NAN on Wednesday.

He said if the request was granted, the tourism sector in the state would thrive, thereby boosting employment opportunities for the youth.

According to him, if one year tax holiday is given to new hotels that could employ from 10 people and above, it would encourage investment in the sector.

“Having enjoying tax holiday for a year, the owner of the hotels will be willing to pay tax if asked,” he asked.

“But demanding tax from newly built hotel is killing and counter-productive.”

He said if government wanted the sector to develop, there must be steady power supply, good network of roads while multiple taxes must be addressed.

Akpovwovwo said security and stability were major ingredients for the development of the sector.

He said the problem of insecurity was having a negative impact on the tourism sector, adding that tourists would only move to places that were secure and peaceful.

He commended Nasir el- Rufai, governor of the state, in his effort at addressing the security challenges.