NIGERIA: Cross River Is Reinventing Its Tourism

Tourism business in Cross River State dates back to pre- amalgamated colonial Nigeria. As early as 1904, the British erected the African club, an elegant relaxation and events center along Calabar road, the city’s main financial and banking district. The African club heralded the first systematic, bold attempt to kick-start the hospitality sector in the state.

In sum, colonial Cross River tourism landscape was hampered by vicious structural problems such absence of innovative and robust regulation, scant content, lack of accessibility, security concern, absence of awareness and private sector apathy.

The administration of Brig. Gen. U. J Esuene, the first governor of the then South Eastern State (now Cross River), 1967-75, laid ambitious foundation for the hospitality sector.

Endowed with great natural landmarks, history and culture, the administration tackled key structural limitation by investing in accommodation infrastructure (3- star, 150 rooms metropolitan hotel now Transcorp Metropolitan), accessibility (inter- state roads and the Margaret Ekpo International airport), renovated the Obudu Ranch Resort and took more than a passive interest to open up the 7,000 Sqr km Cross River forest to tourists.

The administration reduced plenty structural problems but lacked the capacity in the areas of content development and destination marketing. Subsequent administrations concentrated on road infrastructure and environment beautification. The issue of sustainability was hardly taken into serious consideration.

The continuous dwindling of tourist’s traffic in the 1990’s was the morsel of proof that there was a need for new thinking and innovative ideas for the sector to bloom.

In 2003, there was a seismic change. Donald Duke established a new- look, ideas driven tourism Bureau in place of the erstwhile opaque and moribund old tourism Board. Eclectic, ideas- based and innovative, the new tourism Bureau and management team wielded a combined 180 years of industry experience with veterans such as late Prof. EkpoEyo, Prof. EkaBraide, Mrs. Li Umoh and Mrs.

Thelma Bello etc. The quality of the new Bureau was evidence within a span of 4 years. Robust regulation, increased destination marketing, a surfeit of attractive tourism products and modernization of infrastructure attracted plenty private sector players. The Obudu Mountain race , a cable car, the Afi Canopy walk way, the calabar Carnival, the Leboku New Yam festival and the marina Resort, attracted nearly 2.5 million visitors to the state by 2006. Total investments in the sector was put at US$ 3.5 bn by the end of 2007.

By 2015, tourism seemed to be plateauing. As Liyel Imoke stood on the dais of the Calabar International Convention Center to hand over the reins of governmental powers to Ben Ayade, on May 29, 2015, the sector employed 25,000 strong labour force with nearly 43,000 rooms spread across hotels of various grades and guest houses.

Hotel occupancy had plunged from 80% in 2006 to nearly 40% in 2015. Cuts in incentives, adverts and marketing as well as lack of new tourism products were key culprits.

There are key competitors to destination Cross River. Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Abuja and Delta State have upped infrastructures, tackled accessibility problems and packaged enticing new products to attract tourist. In all, Lagos, endowed with hefty, easy money and excellent infrastructure have begun to soar in entertainment and music as well as meetings, conferences and incentives.

International hotel brands has, in the last 5 years, invested heavily in accommodation, dinning and transport businesses.

But destination Cross River is silently re-working its tourism model. A new tourism product- Bikers’ Parade, introduced by the present administration succeeded in attracting new set of people; wealthy Nigerians and others with assortment of bikes and a guaranteed and hefty spends on accommodation, dinning, gasoline and laundry services.

The expanded Calabar Carnival also attracted many Nigerian universities and new audience. The newly commissioned Calabar Monorail and the resuscitation of Tinapa Business Resort adds to the offering.

The gradual industrialization of the state and the presence of premier export processing zone, housing major businesses such as General Electric, Sky run International and Combination Industries and several international Oil Firms have impacted positively on tourism in the state.

Take it or leave it, Obudu Ranch Resort is a top tourist destination in Nigeria according to Kushal Dutta, the managing director of Jumia Travel.

The great natural landmarks found in the state are a boon and great location for movie entrepreneurs. The assortment of wild elephants, plenty migratory birds, chimpanzees, monkeys, butterflies and several species of reptiles and rodents in the 7,000 sqr km of forest is a top attraction to wild life lovers.

The state is still a preferred destination- the alluring green canopies of trees, the rarefied air, excellent hotels, great foods and diverse culture and above all, a hospitable people cannot be taken away from the state.

NIGERIA: Places To Visit In Nigeria

From the place where nature is at its perfect form, to classic and ultra-modern environment, we present you unique places carefully selected from across the 6 geo-political zones in Nigeria to spend the Christmas vacation.

1. Tinapa Resort
Tinapa is a business and leisure resort located in Calabar, the beautiful capital of Cross River State in the South-south.

The resort offers amazing features like a casino, children’s arcade, an amphitheatre, retail and wholesale outlets for your shopping needs and an 8-screen digital cinema.

Located at the Calabar Free Trade Zone, you can equally seize the opportunity to buy electronic items at very cheap prices as well as check out some business opportunities within the zone.

Finally, don’t forget to attend the colourful Calabar Festival.

2. Obudu Ranch Resort
The Obudu Ranch Resort is one of the wonders of Nigeria and arguably the best vacation spot for anyone seeking to enjoy a holiday in an environment that offers a perfect blend of nature and modernity.

The resort features a water park, a golf course and horse riding, night club as well as bonfires. A walk through the forest of Obudu brings one closer to nature as you listen to beautiful birds singing melodiously to your delight.

If you are looking for a vacation spot to help you establish a lasting bond between you and your spouse or family, then Obudu is the perfect choice.

3. Abraka Turf and Country Club
The Abraka Turf and Country Club is situated along the bank of the serene Ethiope River in Abraka, Delta State.

The first thing that hits one on entering the facility is the expansive and well-manicured plants with horses grazing on the lawn, which provides every visitor a feeling of calmness and tranquility.

The resort features first class accommodation and catering services for people of different budgets, horseback riding, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and swimming in the mysteriously clear River Ethiope; the river is so clear that one can see fishes swimming in it.

If you are a lover of nature and serenity, the Abraka resort is the place to spend your Christmas.

4. Kofar Gamji Amusement Park
Kofar Gamji Amusement Park was the first amusement park built in the heart of the Kaduna City. Located along the Shooting Range New Extension, it is indeed the most visited place during celebrations such as Christmas.

It has wide lawns for relaxation, eateries, a swimming pool, and a terrace for couples who may choose to stroll hand in hand. The scenic view of the Kaduna River, which cuts across the park, is a pleasure to behold.

Kofar Gamji is also host to CD World Play Club, where comedians, dancers and other performers entertain guests.

5. Wonderland Amusement Park
This 330,000 square meters’ ultra-modern park located in Nigeria’s federal capital is unarguably the biggest and most equipped park in Nigeria.

The park offers leisure gardens for visitors’ recreation and rides as well as an amazing arcade. A visit to the Millennium Park would not be complete until one enters the popular Fulani Ranch that offers a variety of tasty local and intercontinental cuisines.

A host of other restaurants and shops are also on ground to cater for your needs while at the park.

The park also boasts of a clinic for treatment of minor injuries.

With all these in place, you would be right to call the Millennium Park a fun haven.

So, if you are planning a family picnic, a group get-together or want to spend quality time bonding with your lover, then this park is highly recommended.

6. Yankari Game Reserve
This large wildlife park located in Bauchi State came into being in 1956 as a game reserve but was later turned into a national park in 1991.

The park covers an area of about 2,244 square kilometers and is home to about 50 species of wildlife such as lion, leopard, hippopotamus, antelope, elephant, and waterbuck as well as over 350 species of colorful birds.

The reserve equally boasts of a decent and affordable accommodation for visitors. If you visit Yankari this Xmas, don’t forget to take a deep in the warm spring. But remember always to guard your belongings against the baboons!

7. Oguta Lake Resort
Also, known as the lake of treasure, it is located in Oguta, a quiet town about 30 minutes’ drive from the ever-busy capital of Imo State, Owerri.

The most striking part of this park is the confluence of the Oguta lake which is blue in colour and the muddy Ulasi River, with both maintaining their unique colours.

Even an attempt to mix the two by scooping water from one to another will only leave a stain for a short while; this is better seen than read or imagined!

A deep into the Oguta Lake is also refreshing and safe as the lake is fresh water and does not harbor dangerous creatures.

For your pleasure, the resort equally features a golf course with 18 standard international holes, cruise boat services for that exciting sail you have always imagined, recreational park, standard lodging accommodation and excellent restaurant.

It also allows you to enrich your knowledge of history by visiting relic of war constructed by the defunct Biafran Navy during Nigeria’s civil war.

8. Jos Wildlife Park
This 8 square kilometers park is arguably the most developed man made wildlife park in Nigeria.
It is a home to various wildlife species like lions, buffalos, crocodiles, hippopotamuses, horses, ostriches etc.
The park equally features various attractions like a superb restaurant, picnic pine forest, video viewing centre and so on.

9. Olumo Rock
This amazing granite rock used to be a place of refuge for the people of Egbaland in present Ogun State during intertribal wars in the olden days.

It has several spot caves, some of which are about 20 feet long and 25 feet wide. However, this rock has been modernized with elevator, eateries, and many more to serve as a tourist destination.

One can as well choose to take the staircase instead of the elevator to the top of rock. This serenity at the top of this rock is better experienced than told.

10. Port Harcourt Tourist Beach
Planning on a family vacation or picnic this Christmas, this amazing and scenic beach is the place to go.

The live performances of Cultural entertainers add to the fun.

The resort also offers restaurants and accommodation for all classes as well as sunbathing sites.