2023 Carnival Calabar attracted N10bn, international recognition to Cross River_ MD

As the 2023 Carnival Calabar wind down on December 31st 2023 with fireworks to usher-in the new year on January 1, 2024, the Managing Director of Cross River State Tourism Bureau, Prince Ekpenyong Ojoi has revealed that the 2023 edition of the biggest street party in Africa – Carnival Calabar has attracted international recognition as well as N10bn boost of the states economy.

Ojoi said this in an interview with newsmen in Calabar on Sunday, December 31, 2023 where he disclosed that he joined the tourism industry for about 19 years and have gone through series of training under former Governor Donald Duke, the progenitor of the event and Liyel Imoke’s administration.

He explained, “I have headed marketing desk, Flight-to-Paradise for four years, Desk Officer for Leboku Ney yam festival, Desk Officer sports tour and now the Managing Director of the Tourism Bureau. You will agree with me that Cross River State is the first runner of modern tourism in Nigeria. We are the number one state that have invested more in tourism. We are the only state that has tourism master plan. The only state with a tourism marketing plan and the only state with an airstrip for this purpose within the state”

And doubling down, said: “I was the one who listed the first 45 tourism facilities in Cross River State in 2006. As a desk officer for Flight-in-Paradise, I was moving from Kaduna, Kano and all over the world booking flights for people 3 times a week between 2007 and 2010 in Donald Duke’s time when we started tourism as a state that lost her oil wells. Hence, we choose tourism as our policy drive to boost the economy which attracted the whole world but for eight years under Ben Ayade administration that was focusing on industrialization and veered the ship and then we lost everything to #EndSars and Covid-19 pandemic”.

In conclusion, he explained that the 2023 Calabar Carnival has brought international recognition to Cross River State, created an economy of over N10bn with all the hotels booked in Calabar as at December 14, 2023, plus the coming to life of Kada Cinema at Marina where chief Lucky Igbenidion, Governor of Edo State is the investor.

There is a consortium that has indicated interest to bring back the Obudu Cattle Ranch and the government of Governor Bassey Otu is already talking to Nigeria Tourism Development Authority on how to rejig the place including the Stone Monoliths which is a major tourist attraction.

So, with the fixing of 2 aircrafts and promise to bring the 3rd one in just months after talking to the governor having seen his sincerity and integrity to resuscitate the tourism sector of the state economy in line with global international best practices.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)