The Cross River Tourism Bureau has announced that the recently concluded 32-day Calabar Carnival held in Calabar, Cross River, attracted no fewer than 300,000 tourists. According to the bureau’s Managing Director, Ekpenyong Ojoi, this represents a 42% growth in tourist attendance compared to 2023 statistics.
The carnival, which took place from November 1 to December 31, 2024, also recorded an estimated 450,000 onsite spectators, surpassing the 2023 figure of 279,486. Additionally, over 1.2 billion viewers watched the carnival events on DSTV channel 198 across the world, while live online streaming attracted over 100 million viewers.
The occupancy rate of accommodation establishments in Calabar rose to 68% from 57% in 2023, with over 90% of hotels in Calabar having a 100% occupancy rate between December 15 and 29, 2024. The revenue generated from hotel bookings is estimated at N2.79 billion, while revenue from food and breakfast stood at an estimated N900 million.
Other revenue streams, including major ticketed events, nightclub activities, and online streaming, generated an estimated N1 billion. Transportation costs for visitors to the destination totaled N8.87 billion, covering air, road, and sea transport.
