'You Can’t Quantify Tourism In Terms of' Naira and Kobo'- S.A To The Cross River State Gov.

By Clement Odum.

The special adviser to Cross River State Governor on Tourism, Hon.Kenn Aklah spoke on various plans the State government has put in place for this year's Calabar carnival  during the Akwaaba Travel Market  show in Lagos.

"For us in Cross River State,we take tourism gathering very serious. We are known to be trail blazers as far as tourism is concern in Nigeria. Anywhere we go we took tourism along ‘The honourable further said that Cross River tourism will be bringing in other things into fore this year to make this year Calabar Canival unique, which is the desire of His Excellency Governor Ayade". Again that is the desire of His Excellency, the Governor of the state. The desire that values must be added that everyone must see. What you see this year will be different from what you will see next year. Every year new things must come up. That is the only way people will keep coming back to Calabar’. Disclosing further, he said the state government has lined up new products in this year's Canival. We are building a new city called Cala-Vegas. It is a city around the shores of Calabar River. It is a big place. Slurberger company are already working there. We intend to begin the process of filling the River with sand. We will be doing that shortly. In addition, Aklah added that Calacity is to hold international big soccer tournament. There are about five contestants that will be arriving Calabar for the competition which is going to be competitive”.

The honourable also disclosed that State Government was assiduously working with FIFA on this special arrangement to make the Carnival a big show this year,saying further that the Cala Vegas would be called: Beach Carnival where five banks in Calabar would be competing in a small way, while a Beach Carnival was going to be like a party. In that same place honourable Kenn added, that the Governor will re-introduce Black Music Festival with the Black Colour all over the world. ‘The worlds are going to come and compete for a prize in Calabar come  December. 

We are already in touch and making contacts with some of our brothers who are in the  United States of America. We are also making contacts with the local artist who will be coming for the events. It is going to be context for the prize money. The special adviser to the Governor also hinted that the State Government was developing Christmas Village at Calabar Carnival this year. He pointed out the State Government would make it more standard, working together to make it ‘buy Nigeria goods’. 

To take over the market, there will be sections of the market where there would be selling made in ‘Nigeria products, inline with the idea of encouraging local entrepreneurs, and productivity. 

We are working with those people to expand the market. We are also calling some aspect of this Carnival, ‘Jam Carnival’, coming with buy made in Nigeria Carnival to Jam with ‘Nigeria Carnival market. You are going to be seeing plenty of new things in this year;s Calabar Carnival’ he added.

In terms of benefit to the people of Cross River, the special adviser used this  opportunity to educate the public about the advantages in tourism:

’I have said that you can’t quantify tourism in terms of naira and kobo” he added that when we accessed the benefits to locals it would be misnomer to really know if tourism is doing well. The informal sector in Cross River State, those who do petty business in Cross River Sate from those who sell sachet water, the bottle water, those who sell drinks, the Hoteliers in Cross River, to those who sell fast food joint, and a lot of other business’s, they are all informal businesses that would benefit a lot in this year's Calabar Carnival’. He enlightening! 

When we are out for the thirty two days activities in Calabar, from first week of December, the intention is to ensure that Crossriverians get the spirit of enterprise. Let everybody begin to think. I can do this- those who make beads and people buy beads make money. People, who sew cloths, get patronage. In effect, the magnifier is in all these. 

If you put all these together you are going to find out that what the Cross Riverians are getting in (32 days) thirty two days, will be sure surprise them; how much money Cross Riverian are making.

Like a Government what becomes our gains is the fact that we are a tourism destination. In the long run what we achieve some visitors make new friendship, some see the warmness in the city, some see the cuisines. This is the post signs about tourism while some see the beauty and people, and you can be sure that those things exists’.Emphasized, Mr Kenn. 

In the area of publicity and advertisement the special adviser also inferred that the State Government has done a lot in trying to promote Calabar tourism, he expressed that the State Government are in partnership with DSTV from the first of November. 

‘We are in partnership with DSTV from the first of November. The TV Station will stand running our packages, and we are also running a packaging with CNN. We have put everything in pen and paper to advertise in CNN for the global world to be aware’ and equipped, said the SA.

The Governors aid also reminded that Nigeria can do something significance in the area of Nigeria's tourism potential if so desire. ‘I see it as low hard line issues. The problem also depend on interest of country developing, their tourism potentials.

 Getting your people to have the mindset of accepting people, getting your people to accept visitors should be paramount priority. Let our people begin to appreciate people, welcome visitors’ the Honourable advised.

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