BY: VITALIS UGOH,Calabar
The Federal Tourism Association of Nigeria(FTAN) has concluded plans on how to assist Cross River state government to repackage its tourism subsector.
To achieve this, all trade tourism associations in the state have agreed to partner with the state government in this direction.
The national vice chairman of the Federal Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), South South, Mr Peter Ofuka, made the disclosure in Calabar recently.
Accordingly, we have called on the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the state as well as the Managing Director of the state Tourism Bureau to concretise ways of achieving this collaboration.
Mainwhile, arrangements have concluded by FTAN to formally inaugurate the Cross River State Tourism Writers’ Association in state.
The Tourism Writers’ Association has a veteran journalist, Miss Florence Kekong as its pioneer chairman,Secretary Mr. Eyo Charles while Veteran Vitalis Ugoh emerged as the Vice Chairman.
Kekong is leading a team of other seasoned reporters and veterans who have documented tourism activities in the state over many years.
The election took place Monday during the maiden meeting of the association in Calabar..
Speaking after her election, Kekong, a former secretary of NAWOJ (Nigeria Association of Women Journalists) in the State, said it became imperative to galvanise their editorial outputs to project the huge tourism potentials and sites which inundate the state.
She disclosed that as part of her activities, the Association will pull resources to publish a quarterly compendium on tourist sites, agro–tourism and other potentials in order to also bolster the hospitality industry as well as efforts of locals in such host communities.
Others elected include, a veteran journalist, Vitalis Ugoh as vice chairman, Eyo Charles as secretary; assistant secretary, Ben Akwaaji, financial secretary, Mike Abang, PRO Ago Raymond and others.
