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The Cross River State Tourism Bureau plans to bring tourism stakeholders together to create a more consistent visitor experience across the state.
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The bureau says community participation will be central to creating jobs, protecting tourism assets and strengthening local economies.
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New accommodation facilities, technology and artificial intelligence are expected to feature in Cross River’s efforts to expand its tourism offering and attract more visitors.
September 17, (THEWILL) – The Cross River State Tourism Bureau is set to bring tourism stakeholders and products under a more coordinated structure as the state moves to strengthen its destination offering and increase the benefits of tourism to local communities.
The Managing Director/CEO of the bureau, Mr John Atsu, disclosed this in an interview with journalists at the 22nd edition of Akwaaba Africa Travel Market.
Atsu said the bureau’s priority would be to bring the different players in the tourism sector together because visitors experience Cross River as one destination, regardless of which agency or operator manages a particular attraction.
“What people don’t understand is that the product that is destined for Cross River is not fragmented. It is one experience people get when they come to Cross River”, he said.
According to him, a visitor’s experience at one attraction can shape their perception of the entire destination, making coordination among tourism stakeholders important.
He said the bureau would therefore work towards presenting Cross River’s attractions, products and services as one connected tourism experience.
Atsu also identified community participation as an important part of the state’s tourism strategy, saying local communities should be able to earn from tourism while helping to protect the attractions around them.
“Once you have the community involved, you create employment for the people and you also secure the community”, he stated.
He said the approach would help create jobs, strengthen local economies and give communities a reason to protect tourism assets.
On technology, Atsu said the bureau would make greater use of digital tools, including artificial intelligence, in marketing Cross River and its tourism products.
He said technology would also play a role in the state’s tourism activities and preparations for the annual Calabar Carnival, although he declined to disclose details ahead of the event.
Atsu said Cross River had a wide range of tourism assets, including its rainforests, wildlife, waterfalls, mountain landscapes and the Drill Monkey population.
He described the people of Cross River as another major tourism asset, noting the state’s reputation for hospitality and warmth.
At Akwaaba, the state showcased some of its cuisine and cultural heritage, including traditional practices associated with marriage preparation.
Atsu said the presentation was part of efforts to preserve the state’s cultural heritage and expose it to a wider audience.
On accommodation, he acknowledged the pressure on hotel capacity during major tourism events in Calabar but disclosed that new facilities were being developed.
He said he was expected to inspect a major hotel facility that was almost ready for commissioning, adding that it was larger than the biggest existing hotel in Calabar.
“There are more hotels coming up”, he said.
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Atsu also assured tourists that Cross River was open for business and pleasure, saying security remained a priority for the state government.
He invited journalists and tourism stakeholders to visit the state and see its attractions and ongoing tourism projects.
Speaking on his management approach, Atsu said he would prioritise listening to stakeholders and responding to their concerns and feedback.
“Every suggestion, every complaint, every feedback is taken with the seriousness that it deserves”, he said.
He added that the bureau’s focus would remain on doing the right thing and ensuring that tourism development benefits the communities and the wider state.
Janefrances Ebere Chibuzor is a Tourism Writer at THEWILL
