THE WORLD CONVERGES TOUR AT CALABAR CARNIVAL 2013

Indeed tourism the world over is a phenomenon that has caught on and spread like wildfire across the nations of the world in view of its socio-economic effects in uplifting the poor and fast-tracking development. The youths of Cross River State have come together to carve out new ways of fostering development of the tourism potentials in Cross River State. It is in this vain that  Integrity Youth Alliance (I.Y.A) in collaboration with the Cross River State Tourism Bureau and AIESEC Nigeria will be hosting about 300 students, fun seekers, tourists, AIESEC members as well as young professionals from over eight countries around the World to the best of culture, music and world class entertainment that the Calabar festival offers. The Package tagged “THE WORLD CONVERGES TOUR is a very affordable 10-day tour of Cross River State. This project is aimed at selling Destination Cross River and Calabar Carnival brands to a brand new audience who before now knew nothing about Calabar or the Carnival in Calabar.

The 10-day Tour will feature the following:

·        Visit to all the major attractions in Calabar (Marina Resort, Kwa Falls, Tinapa, Drill Ranch, old residency Museum and more), Ikom (Alok Monoliths, Agbokim Waterfalls), and Obudu (Obudu Mountain Resort, Cable Car, Canopy Walkway).

·        An “Invest in Cross River State” Symposium for all Participants that converge in Calabar.

·        Participation in Africa’s Biggest Street Party (Calabar Carnival) as tourists will be domiciled in the various Carnival bands on parade.

Various measures have been laid down for the mobilization of these delegates prominent among which is the six-week internship program in six countries where I.Y.A marketers will directly market Calabar Carnival to potential visitors to Cross River State. Expected in this year’s tour are tourists drawn mainly from China, U.K, Ghana, India, Italy, Germany, Brazil and Spain. Exclusive publicity will be carried out in China, Italy, Germany, Ghana, India, Spain, and Nigeria for this special yet affordable experience in the Nation’s Paradise.

The package is the brainchild of the Integrity Youth Alliance (I.Y.A), a human resource development organization where young people gather to develop and explore their leadership and economic potentials. I.Y.A is a network of Nigerian youths who are concerned about Nigeria’s future and want to play our part in her transformation. I.Y.A since inception has been in the forefront of youth empowerment via its predominantly youth-based projects spanning through sports, I.C.T, Capacity Building, Entrepreneurship, etc.

The Integrity Youth Alliance is determined to ensuring that Cross River State stands out in terms of development and progress. We are committed to ensuring that this project sells the Destination Cross River brand to the World. We believe that it is the desire of His Excellency to see Cross River State takes centre stage in the Tourism sector because we have the wherewithal and we are blessed with the various landmarks that will ensure Cross River remains Africa’s most preferred Tourism Hotspot.

We celebrate the zeal and commitment of His Excellency, Governor Liyel Imoke who has initiated various attractions yearly to spice up the Calabar Carnival and promote Tourism in Cross River State. We hope to partner with all stakeholders involved to implement this project as it bears the capacity to take the Calabar Carnival and Cross River State to another glorious level.

The World Converges at Calabar Carnival 2013

The Calabar Festival is the climax of a painstaking annual tour events Calendar put together by the Cross River State Government. Spanning a whooping 32-day period, the Festival is perhaps the longest Festival observed in Nigeria today. Strategically, located in the festive month of December every year, it naturally attracts hordes of vacationists who are wont to have their annual holidays in December, from all over the world to not only the Ancient City of Calabar but the entire Cross River State which boasts of an array of tourists sites strewn across its expansive landscape. Through careful repackaging and rebranding, the Calabar Carnival has been yearly improved and expanded, the components of the Festival presenting a variety of entertainment for all classes of people. Though some see the Festival as a jamboree, the spin-off economic opportunities for tourists and residents to explore are simply enormous. For one, spaces at the Festival Village at the Cultural Centre Grounds don’t seem to be enough as more food and drink vendors strive to have spaces. Major hotels in Calabar and environs get fully booked by November and the streets of Calabar experience increased vehicular and human traffic within the period. If there was a mechanism for tracking the inflow of money to food and drink vendors, transporters, hoteliers, tourists themselves, residents, etc, it would have been easy to determine that the Carnival is worth the while for all concerned (tourists, residents, businesses and the government). The Calabar Carnival is the blissful union of business and pleasure occurring simultaneously. The fact is this Calabar Carnival is the place to be in the December season.

Would you like your visit to Calabar Carnival 2013 fully facilitated for you? Call Billy (07031158968), Agbo (08133596359)