In the last two decades, Cross River state has been noted as the epicentre of tourism. It has been designated as Nigeria's destination point as the state boasts of beautiful international tourism sites that adds beauty and panache to the rain forest environment.
Notable among them include National Park, Marina Resort, Slave Museum, Ebom Lake, Nkarasi Monoliths, Agbokim Water falls, Canopy Walk Way and then Obudu Ranch Resort as well as the green lawns and canopy trees that dot the Canaan City of Calabar.
All year round, Cross River engages in all forms of entertainments and cultural festivals such as Leboku New Yam festival and is rounded off with Calabar Festivals and International Street party, Carnival Calabar.
And committed to restoring the glory of Calabar on world tourism calendar, Governor Bassey Otu hosted the world to 2023 International Calabar Carnival that was hitherto dying down in the last administration.
Besides, Otu re-organised the tourism sector by appointing personnel with cognate experience in the industry with a mandate to rejig and revive all moribund tourism sites, seek partnership with private sector and then make the city an entertainment hub within the south-south geopolitical zone.
In the light of the above, the Tourism Bureau manned by Mr Ojoi Ekpenyong, the Managing Director, have taken up the gauntlet as it signed an agreement with Blake Resort to build a world class entertainment centre worth about N5bn at Tortuga Island, Marina, Calabar. Similar places to Tortuga Island abound in Lagos including La Manga Resort, Ilashe, Casa Ilashe, Hermitage Garden Resort and Epe Reosrt and Spa.
Tortuga Island is one of Calabar's hidden gems located in beautiful landscaped gardens in Marina Resort. The Island covers three popular plantation-style bars overlooking the nearby Calabar River and bounded by Navy Yard, making it a very safe location.
It has beautiful features that can offer a perfect place to relax and unwind after a day of sight-seeing and enjoying all that Old Calabar has to offer. The famed Tortuga Island is a sit-out inside the resort.
It is a place relax and have a drinking or a cocktail while watching the sunset and then enjoying a delightful dinner of barbecued meat. You can order from a well-stocked bar and have expertly roasted fish alongside a few other things you would definitely enjoy.
The agreement to develop Tortuga Island was signed on Friday, January 27, 2024 at the corporate office of Tourism Bureau in Calabar and was witnessed by the management team of the Tourism Bureau and a team from Blake Resort led by the Managing Director/CEO, Chief Uzochukwu Akunedozi and Ody Anumba, a director, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, the Managing Director, Tourism Bureau, Mr. Ojoi Ekpenyong, said: "Signing this agreement at this time is an addition because that center is going to create jobs. His Excellency, Governor Bassey Otu, have a people first mantra and this project will take about 200 people off the street by giving them employment.
"How will you talk about tourism without an entertainment center, Cross River State is known as a place where you come to live and be at peace with everything called nature, so make your money in wherever, come to Cross River State and spend your money, so the revenue is going to shut up because of this investment and employment is going to happen here and other people are going to enjoy Tortuga Island and make other business decisions.
"Most hotels that you see in Calabar today were decision that people made because of Carnival Calabar. So, more decisions will be made, employment will come, our revenue will go up and our people will be happy, these is why the investment is important to us."
Speaking the event, Blake Resort Managing Director/CEO, Chief Uzochukwu Akunedozi, said: "I am glad to be here. I'm excited because I feel privileged to be part of what Cross River state government is doing which is tourism and without an iota of doubt, Cross River State is number one tourist destination in West Africa.
"Blake Resort is meant for entertainment; it has hosted people across the globe and the testimonies are there to verify. We are here to add value to what is been done in Cross River State.
"Before we make offer to come into Cross River State, we saw a very beautiful provision which is Tortuga Island and having seen that we decided to make an input to build an entertainment center like no other in West Africa.
"We are giving in a one stop shop for entertainment. It's a spot that will accommodate the kids, the adults and the elderly, which will extend not just on the island but on the water ranging from boat cruise, water cycling etc.
"What pushed me to invest in this state is beyond the passion of the MD Tourism Bureau, but the urgency to get things done, his motivation force is a great motivation for me. I'm in a hurry to deliver and I'm in a hurry to do more than I have said. Our duty is to exceed your expectations.
"We are looking at an initial investment of N5 billion that could be expanded. We are looking at between now and October we should be hitting the ground running. We are bringing in a very fine dining restaurant, we have a lounge, a pool, water-slides and gaming center for kids and lots more.
"Then going down the water, boat cruise, there’ll be floaters that can contain 50 to 60 people who wish to celebrate their birthdays on the water, it's a full package. If you want to make an investment in tourism in Nigeria, your first choice should be Calabar."
Blake Entertainment Resort set for commissioning
Giving update on the state of work, Ojoi disclosed that Blake Entertainment Resort is set for inauguration in December and ready to host the world during the 2024 Carnival Calabar festival.
"The Marina Resort which was opened for business in 2005 suffered neglect and abandonment for years and this administration deemed it necessary to breathe life into it again. You can see what we have turned the famous Tortugal Island at Marina Resort to, this will change the dynamic in entertainment industry in South-South Nigeria.
He said: “The entertainment centre is purely a private sector driven and be better than what they have in Abuja because this location is at the water front. We want to use this to tell our story as Cross Riverians and boost the tourism sector of the state. The center will be a replica of the Blake Entertainment Center in Abuja.
“It will boost of facilities such as Lounge, VIP section, children arcade, night club, swimming pool, and water sports activities, that will attract people from all over the world. Besides, the center is expected to generate a minimum of N10 million daily and will also boost the local economy. The whole value chain here is massive and unimaginable; from service providers and a whole lots of other chain," he stated.
Ekpenyong who also disclosed plans for a 30-room hotel at the Marina resort, further said plans have been perfected to concession the Qua Fall in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the State
"Qua Fall is an ecotourism facility and will are on the verge of concluding plan with a private entity to take over the facility. We are already perfecting plans for them to develop 30-room accommodation, hiking facilities and swimming pool."
Judex Okoro, Beagle News
