Prince Ojoi Ekpenyong, the Managing Director of the Cross River State Tourism Bureau, has disclosed that over 4,000 bed spaces are fully booked ahead of this year’s festivities.

He disclosed this in Calabar while presenting grants to twenty hotels and 30 restaurants across the state to scale up preparations for the carnival.

“As we speak, about 4,000 bed spaces including beds and breakfast options are fully booked.

“We are serious, we have 338 hotels and the data. It’s not something we speak in the air,” he said.

On the grants, he said it is to enable the benefitting hospitality outfits to upscale their facilities while preparing to receive the entire world.

“We are giving these grants to enable you to clean up your hotel and prepare to receive the entire world.

“The government desires that you give the best to the world. 20 hotels will each receive one million naira while 30 restaurants will each receive 250,000 naira,” he said.

He also disclosed that plans have been concluded to train managers and staff in these facilities to make them abreast of what is expected of them as the state prepares to receive visitors.

He said the initiative is in line with the People’s First policy of the Governor Otu administration and so far over 90 hospitality outfits across the state have benefitted from it.

Mr. Elvert Ayambem, Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, said the grant is an innovation that has come to stay and the present administration is committed to sustaining tourism in the state.

The Chief Executive Officer of Silver Maris Hotel, one of the benefitting hotels, thanked the government for the grant saying it will help in upgrading their facilities. (The Sun)