Calabar Carnival injected N17.4bn into Cross River economy: Official

The Cross River State Tourism Bureau (CRSTB) says over N17.4 billion was injected into the state treasury from its 32-day Calabar Festival and Carnivals last year.

Ojoi Ekpenyong, managing director of CRSTB, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said the event played host to over 248,000 visitors.
He said the statistics reinforced the event’s growing status as one of Nigeria’s most powerful tourism drivers.

According to him, the visitor inflow for the 2025 edition exceeded 2024 figures by about 24 per cent.

He noted that tourism activity between November 2025 and January 2026 recorded sharp gains across accommodation, transportation, attraction, and entertainment sites.

Mr Ekpenyong said that the Calabar International Airport handled over 12,000 inbound passengers during the period, with 81 per cent arriving from other Nigerian states and about four per cent from the diaspora.

He added that overall visitor movement into the city in December was estimated at more than 248,000 people, with transportation spending alone at N10.6 billion. “The surge in traffic translated into strong performance across the hospitality sector,” he said.

He said hotels in Calabar recorded an average occupancy rate of 72 per cent, up from 68 per cent in 2024, while peak occupancy rose to over 95 per cent between December 16 and December 30, 2025.

“Total hotel booking revenue was estimated at N3.9 billion, with more than 26,000 room nights confirmed in December alone,” he said.

He said that revenue from food, beverages, and breakfast services stood at about N2.05 billion, reflecting longer visitor stays and increased spending.
Mr Ekpenyong further noted that tourism sites recorded significant growth during the period.

He said that between November and December 2025, more than 370,000 tourists visited major attractions, including Obudu Mountain Resort, Kwa Falls, and Marina Resort, representing nearly 80 per cent growth compared to 2023 and a clear rise from 2024 figures.

Mr Ekpeyong said that major ticketed events, including Funfest, Queen of Humanity, and the Calabar Fashion Show, generated an estimated N130 million, while five leading nightclubs recorded combined revenues of about N460 million.

He said that ancillary activities—from food vending and logistics to car rentals and creative merchandising—contributed an additional N1.7 billion, supporting hundreds of small and medium-scale enterprises.

The CRSTB boss said that attendance and media reach also expanded sharply. Mr Ekpenyong said an estimated 780,000 on-site spectators attended the cultural carnival, children’s carnival, bikers’ carnival, and the main Carnival Calabar events.

“Globally, the festivals reached over 1.3 billion television viewers via DSTV Channel 198 and partner networks, while live online streaming exceeded 120 million viewers across digital platforms.

“What began two decades ago as a modest holiday celebration has evolved into a full-blown cultural spectacle,” he said.

He said the festivals, aside from boosting the local economy, also strengthened Nigeria’s destination brand in the global tourism market.
Mr Ekpenyong solicited sustained government backing, stronger private-sector partnerships, and continued investment in infrastructure and service delivery.

According to him, the Calabar Festivals and Carnivals are well-positioned for even greater impact in the years ahead. (NAN)