Commission Lists Gains Of "Carnival Calabar".

With two days to the Carnival Calabar, Chairman of the Carnival Commission, Gab Onah has listed the enormous advantages of the festival, adding that the yearly event had boosted the state’s economy.

He spoke in Calabar while welcoming the Vai Vai Samba from Brazil, a guest team that is expected to lead the street procession during the carnival.

According to Onah, the arrival of the samba team from Brazil signalled the last effort by the commission to make this year’s carnival a most exciting, colourful and memorable event.

He added that the team’s presence was part of the plan by the state government and the commission to lift the status of the carnival to a world - class celebration.

“Our vision is to fully develop the Calabar festival through sustainable development and aggressive promotion of an innovative, differentiated, high-value, internationally competitive visitor experience supported by strong brand recognition, public and private sector partnership and a positive cultural transformation.

“The festival is indisputably the biggest and longest multi-dimensional, multi-faceted tourism leisure and entertainment programme in West Africa. Thirty-two days of exciting events, colourful activities and unprecedented yearly participation by close to a million people from all over the world. A festive season that started at the turn of the millennium has grown in popularity, scope and participation year in year out. Today, it is arguably Nigeria’s strongest tourism brand.’’

The state economy, Onah said, had enjoyed a boost as a result of the carnival, adding,  “The State Government has employed this festival/carnival over the past years to drive its tourism efforts and provide exposure for its vast tourism sites and infrastructure such as the Obudu Ranch Resort, the Tinapa Business Resort, Marina Resort.’’

This year’s carnival will hold on Thursday with the street parade commencing in the early hours at the Millennium Park.