By Carolyn Ugbor
As Cross River State joins the global community to mark the 2024 World Tourism Day with the theme, ‘Tourism and Peace’ the Cross River State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts And Culture, Honourable Ewa Abubakar, has advocated for peaceful coexistence amongst the citizenry for tourism to thrive.
Speaking at the event held at the Slave History Museum, on Friday, Ewa asserted that this year’s theme was apt as it resonates with the tenet of the administration and urged all to appreciate and imbibe the peaceful nature of Governor Bassey Otu who by character personifies peace and has entrench peace in the State since assumption of office.
He emphasised that “We are witness to the fact that His Excellency’s strong disposition as agent of peace, as showcased in his mantra of people’s first and season of sweetness is not lip service as we are enjoying peace, as well as experiencing a new surge of private sector driven investments in the state, especially in tourism and its related sectors.”
According to him, the Ministry is into community-based tourism and is ready to ensure the environments where our tour sites are located are safe and visitor-ready, revealing the near-ready completion state of Qua Falls.
In a paper presentation titled “Ecotourism and Peace As A Tool For Sustainable Development In Cross River State,” Dr Odiga Odiga, an environmentalists, posited that tourism is a Divine Mandate and for it to thrive in the State, the people must consider being in obedience to God’s mandate on it by imbibing peace as tourism is peace driven.
He pointed out that, Cross River State is a biodiversity hotspot with over 1,500 plant species, 25 edible mushrooms, diverse Forests, mangroves, animals, diverse species of birds, and also considered as a uniquely conservative area.
Odinga appealed to the Government to use their political wheel power to draw out ecotourism strategies and policies that will drive it and move for synergy between Ministries, Departments and Agencies to execute these strategies and policies as major stakeholders.
Also speaking in a goodwill message, Mr Charles Ogar, Chairman of the Hoteliers Association, described the event as a humble show which, according to him, is better than the jamborees.
Ogar commended the Tourism Commissioner and his team For considering the tourism Students from different Secondary schools present in this year’s celebration, stating that there’s no tourism with them.
The event featured cultural dance by the Department of Culture and Heritage, a Class presentation by students of Hope Waddle Training Institution, and a panel discussion by stakeholders in the tourism industry.
Other dignitaries present were Mrs Laurencia Ita, Honourable Commissioner For Establishment and Training, Prof. Anim O. Ajake, Dean Faculty of Environmental Science, University of Calabar, Honourable Albert Kusi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Hospitality, Special Assistants, Personal Assistants and tourism teachers.