Tom Moses
2 November 2009
Calabar — Cross River State Government has declared that the state would remain the tourism destination of the West African sub-zone, so as to tap from the invaluable wealth in the sector.
The government made its position known at the Tourism Stakeholders Meeting held in Calabar, the state capital, weekend, noting that "although oil and gas remained good, tourism is better and has more enduring benefits".
The Tourism Stakeholders Meeting, was organized by the state' Tourism Bureau in conjunction with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and attended by officers in the police, the State Security Service (SSS), Immigration Services, tour operators and promoters, car-hire operators, hoteliers, restaurant operators and other social services providers and aides of the state government.
Based on the state's disposition to tourism, the stakeholders resolved on the need for those in the hospitality industry to improve the standard of their outfits and equip them with modern facilities.
They also resolved to have in-built security devices and network to protect their guests and secure their confidence for continuous patronage just as the stakeholders were expected to be friendly in their conducts at all times.
They however implored the government to build and rehabilitate roads for uninhibited access to where their establishments are located, provide electricity, security, guaranty bank facilities for them to invest with and raise standard of their businesses, check exorbitant taxation by revenue agents as well as patronize their businesses and not only the big hotels and restaurants.
They lamented that in spite of the support they were giving to government, the gesture was hardly reciprocated as most times, government support went to big hoteliers.
The Zonal Coordinator, South-South, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mr. Friday Anumba in his remarks, urged all those in the tourism industry to register with the corporation, in order to tap from the available opportunities and privileges.
Anumba stressed the relevance of tourism for wealth creation, employment generation and general national economic advancement than any other sector, hence, the need for the stakeholders to improve the standard of their outfits so as to attract international patronage and for them to get the expected rewards.
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