NAN-ND-3
Tourism
By Benson Ezugwu
Ugep (Cross River), Aug. 20, 2017 (NAN) Mr Eric Anderson, the Commissioner-designate for Tourism in Cross River, says he is optimistic to realise the State Government’s vision of increasing its revenue through tourism.
He expressed his zeal to realise the vision, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area of the state.
Anderson, who was recently appointed commissioner for tourism and cleared by the State Assembly, will be sworn in by Gov.Ben Ayade on his return from a current oversea trip.
“The State Government wants to make tourism the mainstay of our economy as the allocation from the federation account continues to dwindle.
“With time, we are sure that Cross River will become the country’s best tourist destination,” he said.
The commissioner-designate said the state government was currently identifying more tourism sites across the 18 local government areas of the state with a view to developing them and enhancing its revenue.
“Cross River has the largest number of tourism sites in Nigeria which have yet to be identified and developed. These are located in all the nooks and crannies of the state.
“An example is the newly found cave in Ugep which was probably inhabited by the ancient Ugep indigenes or people from another kingdom who sojourned there at a time.
“Our ancestors lived in caves and mountains and the state government is ready to identify more of these sites and upgrade them to international standard.
“There are many of such tourism sites in Obudu, Obanliku, Bekwara and other areas.
“We want tourists and researchers from all over the world to visit the state and this will yield revenue and contribute to the development of the economy,”he said. (NAN)
BEN//EMO/EMO
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Edited by Ejike Obeta