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By Chinelo Obogo
Cross River State saw a boost in December 2024, with approximately 150,000 visitors flocking to the city for the annual Carnival Calabar and spending an estimated ₦8.875 billion on transportation alone, according to a newly released report.
The Cross River State Tourism Bureau (CRSTB) revealed these figures this week as it launched training for comprehensive data collection ahead of this year’s festivities. The training aims to equip enumerators and officials with skills to accurately track visitor numbers, spending patterns, and the carnival’s overall economic impact.
CRSTB Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ekpenyong Ojoi, explained that resource persons from both the bureau and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) conducted the training, demonstrating the state’s dedication to evidence-based tourism planning.
The 2024 event, themed “Our Shared Prosperity,” ran for 32 days and featured major attractions including the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, Carnival Calabar Dry Runs, the Calabar Food Festival, and the Parade of the Bands. The celebrations also showcased music performances, cultural dances, fashion shows, and sports competitions.
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Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar recorded over 10,000 inbound passengers between November 1 and December 29, 2024, an increase from 7,452 passengers during the same period in 2023. Notably, 79 percent of arrivals came from Nigeria, while three percent traveled from the diaspora, primarily for leisure and carnival activities.
The visitor surge represented a 42 percent increase compared to 2023 figures. Tourism activity extended beyond the carnival itself, with more than 300,000 tourists visiting popular attractions including Obudu Mountain Resort, Marina Resort, and Kwa Falls between November and December 2024, an increase from 190,345 visitors in 2023.
The hospitality sector experienced growth, with hotel occupancy rates climbing to 68 percent from 57 percent the previous year. More than 90 percent of hotels achieved full occupancy between December 15 and 29. Revenue from hotel bookings reached an estimated ₦2.79 billion, while food and breakfast sales generated approximately ₦900 million.
CRSTB officials stated that the upcoming data collection exercise for ‘Detty December’ will build on these achievements, providing more insights into visitor behavior and spending while strengthening Cross River State’s position as one of Nigeria’s premier cultural and tourism destinations.
