In order to make the Carnival Calabar the best in the world, the Government of Cross River State said it is assisting 10 hotels with the sum of ten million naira (N10m) each to enhance their facilities to meet international standards.
This, according to Prince Ekpenyong Ojoi, Managing Director of the State’s Tourism Bureau, will revitalise the tourism sector as well as improve the economy of the state.
Ojoi said the package is part of government incentives intended to assist hoteliers who are considered to be major stakeholders in the tourism sub-sector to upgrade basic facilities to guarantee the comfort of guests expected to troop to the city for the Carnival which has gone into the shadows during the previous administration.
“Governor Bassey Otu is poised to revamp the sector with innovations not only to restore lost glory but to overhaul the system in line with global best practices.
“From the interest and passion demonstrated by our Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, it’s glaring that he is in a hurry to get our tourism industry back on track to checkmate the downward slide aggravated by years of neglect and poor funding,” Ojoi said.
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He further disclosed that “Apart from injecting funds into the hospitality industry, we are also fine-tuning plans to reopen Cinema located within the Marina Resort, now known as the Kada Cinema; we want to give visitors to the Resort a complete dose of the glamour and bliss once associated with the serene tourist attraction.”
Ojoi revealed that the Bureau has opened discussions with key players in the global movie market for streaming the latest movies at the Kada Cinema to keep expected guests at the edge of their seats while watching.
CONVERSEER reported that the State’s Governor, Prince Bassey Otu during the first dry run promised to make this year’s Carnival the best in the world.
Recall that Otu, just like other governors has chosen “Season of Sweetness” as this year’s theme.