‘We’re bringing more activities to make Cross River all year-long tourists’ destination’

Certainly, Cross River State is not resting on its month long premium tourism festival that ushers in the Carnival Calabar as the state is on overdrive to up its game on the sector with a sport tourism cycling project dubbed Akwacross.

The game plan is to keep the state continuously in focus with strategic and sustainable tourism activities, building up an entirely dependent economy on tourism culture, environment and other downstream influencers of the business.

Akwacross cycling project which is specially dedicated to enhancing the historical and cultural relationship between the people of Akwa ibom and Cross River who share similar narratives on culture, dances, language, fashion and gastronomy, comes up on March 14, an innovation critical to generating domestic visitations and reconnection.

It is also premised to drive excellence in sports and physical well-being of the people, not excluding visitors as a well toned body notably contributes to the progress and advancement of humanity.

That’s not all about the rebirth and restructuring of tourism agenda of this state blessed with virgin aquatic and natural resources endowment as plans are afoot to organise the biggest training programme for the hospitality operators and investors come March 19, 2020.

Already, Obudu Mountain Resort on the northern fringes of the state is back on the tour circuit. This iconic resort with surreal landscape and cable car, remain the state highly sought after tourist delight and activator of structured visits.

Eric Anderson, the commissioner for tourism, Cross River State disclosed that all tour sites in the states will be made attractive to investors and tourists.

“We are carefully addressing issues that help us create a true tourism environment that will place the state as most preferred destination in Africa and at the same time develop verifiable tourism economy capable of providing jobs and help protecting our prime fauna and flora ecosystem.” he explained.

Anderson, who promised to sufficiently link other key tourism value chain products into top finishing ranking, stated that marine tourism will not be left out on the state’s tourism agenda as plans to give the iconic marina resort a big boost as well as to increase the unusual visitors’ traffic to the city center located recreation site.

“We are sure Cross River State can make a big statement apart from our carnival Calabar project. Our desire is to be seen as the best destination in Nigeria nay Africa.

“We are determined to prove a point and we are encouraged by the governor to make this state the most preferred among local and international visitors.” Eric Anderson told a select tourism journalists recently.