Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, has commended the organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market (AfTM) for the uncommon effort at introducing the medical tourism segment at the biggest MICE event in West Africa.
According to Otu, “It gives me pleasure to be part of the unbroken staging and exhibition of the 19th Akwaaba Africa Travel Market. Indeed, it is a welcome to all and majorly to the tourism and travel trade players.
“I also understand that for the second year, the medical tourism platform is being activated with a strong partnership with the Turkish group, among others. This is particularly elating because for every good reason, the world needs to come together now more than ever.”
Akwaaba 2023 was attendeding a good number of delegates from top Turkey and Ghana medical groups, who took ample time to network with over 600 participants that attended the person-to-person session at the event.
Also the governor used the opportunity to unveil the theme of 2023 Carnival Calabar tagged the Season of Sweetness.”
“I am very pleased that we are here again to share that moment of joy that Calabar, Cross River State, offers the world as Africa’s warmest welcome.
“Carnival Calabar represents the most tangible tourism product in the calendar of events in Cross River State and Nigeria in general.
“It was and still is a strategic plan for the actualisation of the vision of transforming Cross River State socioeconomically through the instrumentality of the performing arts.
“Moving forward, it is the belief of my administration that the carnival has come of age and should deploy all efforts at sustainability and inclusion to achieve set goals, exploring a robust public-private partnership framework to achieve mutually beneficial relations in naming rights, endorsements, sponsorships, Merchandising and activations.
“It is in the realisation of these waiting opportunities that I have directed that the children’s carnival, aqua show and the exciting and colourful Night of Kings and Queens return to the carnival calendar to create more opportunities for sponsors’ visibility.
Also in her remarks, the leader of the Seagull Band, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, said the past editions of the carnival had explored topical themes like Africanism, climate change, industrialisation and more.
Ita-Giwa said individuals should desist from perceiving the carnival as mere dancing activities as it entailed telling beautiful stories that educate through dance and costumes.
She said in the processes of organising the carnival, people’s level of creativity is improved, most especially when crafted images had to be made to relay the stories.
“I am happy that we have a governor that is ready to uphold the carnival.
“Carnival Calabar has come to stay, it is not just about dancing but it is all about telling stories through our custumes and dances,” she said.
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