IT was laughable when  I read in the media the statement credited to Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, that the state target market for the annual Calabar Carnival for now remains the Nigerian market.

AKWAABA African Travel Market [AFTM], a three-day event, which attracted exhibitors from within and outside Nigeria, created a rare avenue for tourism and travel experts to cross-fertilise ideas on new areas of investment opportunity, and how to sustain business network and innovation through a unified forum has come and gone.

INTERNATIONAL tourist arrivals worldwide are estimated to have declined by 7  per cent between January and August 2009. Destinations worldwide recorded a total of 600 million arrivals, down from 643 million in the same period of 2008.

THE recent introduction of the air passenger duty (APD) for departures from United Kingdom airports to long haul destinations is causing jitters within the tourism industry, with players fearing that they could lose British tourists.

LAGOS State House of Assembly has summoned the commissioners for Tourism and Inter-governmental relations, budget and economic planning; finance and justice, Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Ben Akabueze, Rotimi Oyekan and Supo Sasore to appear before it to clarify grey areas in the procurement of a Sunburn Yacht.

INVESTORs at the on-going China International Trade and Investment Conference have pledged about $2 billion funding for 40 projects in the tourism and hospitality industry.

THE dense forest of the Osun Sacred Grove, on the outskirts of the city of Osogbo, is one of the last remnants of primary high forest in southern Nigeria. The beautiful landscape of the grove and its meandering river dotted with sanctuaries and shrines, sculptures and art works in honour of Osun water goddess and other deities has overtime become the major attraction for tourists flocking the town especially during the festivals.

Through the Change for Good partnership with Unicef, British Airways is further restating its commitment to Nigeria. 
Andrew Crawley, director of sales and marketing, visited Kuje Primary School, Abuja to mark World Malaria Day.