Imoke, others task stakeholders on growth of tourism sector

STAKEHOLDERS in the tourism sub-sector have been charged to re-strategise and evolve a more economically viable approach that would make tourism a main earner in the country.Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke gave the charge at a symposium organised by the State Tourism Bureau to mark the 2011 World Tourism Day in Calabar. He stated that the occasion served as a veritable platform for stakeholders to appraise the benefits that could be derived from a well thought out and fully developed tourism sub-sector for the overall development of the country.Imoke who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham, said the state government recognised the fact that tourism had the potential of contributing to the economic and social advancement of the state, adding that the challenge before them was on how to effectively harness the abundant tourism assets and transform them into strategic revenue streams and job creation.While commending the organisers of the event for the choice of a sub-theme: 'Harnessing and Developing Our Authentic Elements as key tourism products', the governor said the annual carnival in Calabar which draws over one million participants to the state presents yet another avenue for the private sector to communicate their brands and connect with the large market to grow their business.He reiterated the state's readiness to establish a Tourism Development Institute in Calabar as part of government deliberate policy to reposition the industry and take full advantage of the enormous opportunities to better the lots of its indigenes, especially the youths.Imoke urged the Bureau as well as other relevant stakeholders to take up the challenge of rebranding the sector and ensure effective marketing of the huge tourism assets to the world to generate the desired impacts on the economy of the nation.
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