Cross River eyes tourism boom as Calabar carnival marks 20 years

Governor Bassey Otu. Credit: Bassey Otu | X

As Cross River State prepares to host the 20th anniversary of the Carnival Calabar and Festival, the Cross River State Government says this year’s edition will serve as a major launchpad to restore the state’s place as West Africa’s leading tourism destination.

The state governor, Bassey Otu, made the declaration on Sunday, during the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Millennium Park, where he appeared alongside four former governors, Clement Ebiri, Donald Duke, Liyel Imoke, and Ben Ayade, in a symbolic show of unity for the state’s tourism revival.

Otu disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

The governor, who described tourism as a pillar of his administration’s economic agenda, said the government is committed to reenergising the sector through human capital development, rural transformation and renewed global visibility.

“My team and I will continue to grow Cross River through human capital development, industrialisation, rural transformation, and tourism,” he said.

For an event that has grown into Africa’s biggest street party over two decades, cultural experts say the 2025 carnival presents an opportunity not just for celebration, but for economic repositioning.

Culture and entertainment consultant Joseph Nneji, said preparations had been intensified to ensure this year’s celebration sets new global standards.

“Twenty years of the Carnival Calabar and Festival is not just a celebration for Cross River State, but for Africa and the world. We invite governments, tourists, creatives, brands, and cultural institutions to join us in commemorating two decades of excellence,” Nneji said.

Once conceived as a modest tourism initiative, the Carnival Calabar and Festival has evolved into a global spectacle, drawing millions of participants both physically and online.

Its reach now spans continents, attracting enthusiasts from Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, South Africa, Ghana and other parts of the world.

The festival has also expanded well beyond local cultural displays, now featuring international concerts, elaborate street parades by popular bands such as Seagull, Passion 4, Bayside and Freedom, bikers’ shows, heritage exhibitions, fashion showcases, film events and beauty pageants.

This year’s anniversary edition is expected to host performers from at least 10 countries, amplify indigenous culture through curated heritage presentations, and attract global influencers, filmmakers, and tourism ambassadors.

To consolidate its tourism ambitions, the state government is pairing the celebrations with a dedicated investment summit aimed at unlocking fresh opportunities for local businesses, artisans, performers and investors while strengthening Nigeria’s creative and hospitality sectors.