In a bid to restructure and promote sustainable tourism, the Cross River State Government disbursed N10 million to 10 deserving hotels in the state on Tuesday.
The Managing Director of Cross River State Tourism Bureau, Mr. Ojoi Ekpenyong, said the initiative, aptly named “Empowering Hotels, Investing in Excellence,” is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the government to sustain tourism.
Expressing gratitude to the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, for his unwavering commitment to delivering on the promises of the People First mandate, he said the presentation of the award was a tangible testament to his commitment to promoting economic growth and empowerment within the state.
According to him, “These 10 exceptional hotels were carefully selected based on their commendable efforts in staying up-to-date with licensing requirements and their potential for remarkable growth. Today’s recognition is not merely a financial grant but a vote of confidence in your commitment to excellence, service quality, and advancing our state’s tourism landscape.
“We acknowledge that the tourism industry thrives when our hospitality partners thrive. In this spirit, we embark on this journey of empowerment, knowing that by investing in our hotels, we invest in the essence of our tourism potential.”
On his part, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rtd Hon Elvert Ayambem, who was represented by the Deputy Minority Leader of CRSHA, Hon Samuel Abang, assured that the 10th National Assembly is ready to cooperate with the tourism industry by proposing legislation that would bring tourism back to the way it was.
Cross River State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Abubakar Ewa, who decried the eight years of stagnation the state’s hospitality industry suffered, advised the recipients to use the fund wisely for its intended purpose.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Charles Ogar of Pyramid Hotel, thanked the state government for keeping its promise and tasked other beneficiaries to utilize the money judiciously.
“I have been around this industry for over 26 years; we had a terrible 8 years, but now we can see the twilight at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
The beneficiaries of the grant are Pyramid Hotel, Diamond Cruel Hotel, Le’ Chateau Hotel, Royal Bit Hotel, Channel View Hotel, and Global Dreams Hotel.
Tourist Castle Luxury and Suites, Formula Hotel, Ahkira Lodges, and Calcom Hotel are others.