By Carolyn Ugbor
In a significant move to bolster the tourism sector and make ecotourism thrive in Cross River State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts And Culture, Chief Ewa Robert Abubakar and his management team have held an inaugural meeting with the Technical Committee for Eco-tourism Project.
The meeting which was organised at the instance of the Tourism Boss as part of the Ministry’s mandate and administrative plan for 2024, to identify and develop strategies for the sustainable use and management of our natural resources was held in the Commissioner’s office, in Calabar, Tuesday.
Addressing the Technical Committee which is made up of critical stakeholders from international and national Non-Governmental Organisations, the academia, the tourism industry and drivers of environmental protection in the state, Chief Ewa stated that the purpose of the meeting was to develop policies that will help drive a sustainable ecotourism in the state.
He however, charges them to bring in their wealth of experience and expertise to facilitate the formulation of standard policies to safeguard the rich natural ambience, and rare species of animals and birds found in the state to ensure increased traffic in tourism as well as boost the State’s IGR.
Responding, Mr Odigha Odigha Chairman of BOT NGO, revealed that driving ecotourism in the state is a low-hanging fruit with the availability of all necessary supports needed like the home, academia and civil society but seeks political will from the executive to guarantee fast results.
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Also speaking, Professor Anim O. Agake, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Science, University of Calabar, lamented the massive depletion of the forest and outlined hamsters to growth in Eco-tourism as conservation, community empowerment and education.
“The issue of awareness was the reason why the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) established Environmental Education at the University of Calabar,” he added.
Present during the meeting were Bar. Anguibe U. Ogar, Tourism Consultant, Liza Gatsby, Director Pandrillus, Amanda Effiong of Cross River State National Park.