By Balimwor Ekpe
As Cross River State ministry of Tourism,Arts and Culture, celebrate’s the 2024 world tourism day on Friday 27th, September 2024, with the theme Tourism And Peace, the commissioner Hon.Chief Robert Abubakar Ewa has extolled the Governor of the State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu for boosting the tourism sector and restoring peace in Cross River State.
Ewa who poured encomiums on Governor Bassey Otu for rendering serviceable governance to Cross Riverians, while declaring open the world tourism day at the slave history museum in marina resort calabar, uttered that tourism can only thrive in a peaceful, friendly and tranquil environment, which is why he is grateful to Governor Otu who deemed it necessary to improve the security architecture of the State that has resulted to the eradication of communal clashes, kidnap and other social vices that pose threat to tourism boom. He narrated that as a Ministry engaged in Eco-Tourism that is community based tourism, they have interfaced with communities where tour sites are domicile, sensitized the people to promote, nurture, maintain peace and unity for effective tourism activities to survive in their domains.
The commissioner also disclosed that his ministry and sterling consortium are in partnership for the development of tour sites in the state, and have started with the kwafalls after which other tour sites will follow suit in the development process to make all the Cross River tour sites tourists ready.
Amongst resource persons who spoke at the event was Dr. Odiga Odiga who’s paper presentation was focused on Eco-Tourism and peace as tool for sustainable development in Cross River State, He emphasized that investing in peace is critical for tourism to thrive in the state, underscored the importance of Eco-Tourism as pivotal to the transformation, unity and peace needed in the state. He further referred to Cross River as a uniquely endowed State with a rich vegetation of over one thousand five hundred plant species that cannot be found in any other part of the world, thereby making Cross River a global diversity hotspot that has become a conservation priority for tourists around the world.
Odiga called for partnership from civil societies, donor agencies and government for the promoting of eco-tourism that will bring about sustainable development in Agriculture and other sectors of the State.
Finally the Honourable commissioner, Chief Abubakar Ewa sued for peaceful co-existence among Cross Riverians, and encouraged them to exhibit love, friendship, kindness to visitors while supporting Government to promote tourism in the state.
Participants at the event include the Honourable commissioner Hon. Chief. Abubakar Ewa, the permanent secretary Pastor Mrs. Eme Affia, the director of tourism Mr. Dan Akeke, Staff of the ministry, staff of Cross River State Tourism Bureau, Cross River Coordinator of Nihotour prince Effiong Edem, the Honourable commissioner for establishment, trainings and pension Hon Lawrencia ita, Chairman of Hoteliers association Mr. Charles Ogar, appointees of Government, professionals in the tourism industry, academia’s, Public secondary schools and the general public.
The event had drama rendition, cultural performances, panel discussions, entertainment, paper presentation and presentation of goodwill messages by professionals in the tourism and hospitality industry.
