To ensure the safety of potential tourists in Cross River State, the State Tourism Bureau trained military and paramilitary personnel on Tuesday in preparation for the 2023 festival/carnival. The Managing Director (MD) of the Cross River State Tourism Bureau, Prince Ojoi Ekpenyong, stated that the security personnel expected to undergo the training include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Civil Defense, VIO, Road Safety, Immigration, Customs, and even private security services.
According to him, “The essence of this training is to restore Cross River State to its world-class destination status. The security personnel are our first gatekeepers; they are the ones who interact with our visitors. So, we are here to emphasize that they must welcome our visitors with a smile and perform their duties with love and professionalism.
“The training aims to promote a police-friendly environment in Cross River. Whether you like it or not, when the police and other agencies handle issues on the road with love, more people will be drawn to Cross River State,” he said.
“The expectations are high because there will be tourism policing in Cross River State. They are all here as trainees, and they will go back to train their colleagues. These are representatives of security personnel in Nigeria. About twenty thousand of them who will be on the road on that Carnival day will be trained in their respective agencies,” he maintained.
Flagging off the one-day training, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rtd Hon Elvert Ayambem, commended the MD for taking steps to train security personnel as part of the modernization of the state’s tourism industry.
“Most of the countries people travel to don’t even have what we have in Cross River State, and I strongly thank the governor for revamping the tourism of Cross River State.
“This training is crucial because if you travel somewhere and see a security personnel manhandling anyone, I’m sure you wouldn’t want to visit there again. So what the MD of the Tourism Bureau is doing here today is commendable because the simple lecture given to them and the caution in handling people coming into the state are paramount.
“The training is vital because there’s a way security personnel will handle a person, and instead of attracting tourists to Cross River State, they might scare them away. So it’s a welcome development,” he averred.
The Speaker assured that the monolith and the gods’ mountain site, which the previous government abandoned, would receive maximum attention in this administration.
Giving an overview of the training, the Vice President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), Justina Ovat, said the workshop aimed to instill the spirit of hospitality and excellent service to drive an exceptional guest experience during the Calabar Carnival.
“This comprehensive one-day workshop aims to equip military and paramilitary forces with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver ‘Africa’s warmest welcome’ during the Calabar Carnival, ensuring an exceptional guest experience. Facilitators with expertise in hospitality, events management, and military protocols will conduct the sessions,” she emphasised.
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