By Sylvia Okoi
The Cross River State Government has unveiled plans to revolutionize the State’s tourism industry through a collaborative effort between the Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA) and the Cross River State Tourism Bureau.
The partnership, which was revealed during a meeting between the Director General of CRGIA, Mr. William Archibong, and the Managing Director of the Tourism Bureau, Prince Ojoi Ekpenyong, in Calabar Wednesday, aims to leverage the CRGIA’s Geographic Information System (GIS) project to enhance sustainable tourism management in Cross River.
According to Mr Archibong, “Tourism Bureau is a major Parastatal in the State’s economy and as an information disposed Agency, we are fully prepared to offer the best services. CRGIS is a one stop shop that will support all your activities to boost sustainable tourism development.”
Offering insights on the relevance of his agency, the DG stated that GIS is a tool for capturing, analysing and manipulating and displaying Geographic data, adding “We are poised to take your data and information into a valuable product to tourists.”
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He assured that with the introduction of GIS services, in the tourism sector, the issues of accessibility and viability would be sorted out completely through a seamless procedure.
In his response, the Managing Director,Cross River State Tourism Bureau, Prince Ojoi Ekpenyong, who expressed appreciation to the DG and his team for taking a pragmatic approach in addressing perceived challenges of MDA’s assured of his willingness to collaborate with GIS to grow tourism in the State.
Prince Ojoi used the occasion to announce that he was spearheading efforts to develop cultural tourism in the State and that he was working to restore tourism sites that have been neglected, and collaborating with other agencies to boost tourist confidence and increase tourism activities.
He described the partnership with GIS as a worthwhile venture noting that the initiative would boost the State’s economy and promote tourism development.
Cross River State is already known for its rich cultural heritage and natural attractions, including the Obudu Mountain Resort, Agbokim Waterfalls, and Cross River National Park, with these new initiatives, the state is poised to become an even more vibrant tourist destination.
The partnership between CRGIA and the Tourism Bureau is a significant step towards positioning Cross River State as a leading tourism destination in Nigeria. By harnessing the power of GIS technology, the state government can create a more sustainable and efficient tourism industry, ultimately benefiting the local economy and promoting cultural heritage.
The CRGIS is also seeking such a collaboration with the Cross River State Electrification Agency, where the CRGIS Project coordinator, Mr. Jesam Iwara, explained how Geographic Information System (GIS) technology can enhance project viability assessments.
This according to him would involve the mapping the State’s electricity infrastructure across 18 local government areas.
The MDAs tour of GIS also took the team to the office of the Honourable Commissioner for Works, Hon. Pius Ankpo, to discuss leveraging GIS in mapping previous, ongoing, and future projects, including project management, monitoring, distribution, and maintenance history.
