Akakan Umoh
The Cross River State Tourism Bureau says it generated more than N17.4 billion revenue from its 32-day festivals and carnivals in December 2025.
Ojoi Ekpenyong, the managing director of the Tourism Bureau, who stated this in a statement on Friday, said the event hosted over 248,000 visitors.
Mr. Ekpenyong said that the statistics reinforced the beflief that the event is growing in status as one of Nigeria’s “most powerful” tourism drivers.
According to him, the visitor inflow for the 2025 edition exceeded 2024 figures by about 24 per cent.
He noted that tourism activity from November 2025 to January 2026 recorded sharp gains across accommodation, transportation, attraction and entertainment sites.
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The Tourism Director said the Calabar International Airport handled over 12,000 inbound passengers during the period, with 81 per cent arriving from other Nigerian states and about four per cent from the diaspora.
He added that overall visitor movement into the city in December was estimated at more than 248,000 people, with transportation spending alone at N10.6 billion.
He said hotels in Calabar recorded an average occupancy rate of 72 per cent, from 68 per cent in 2024, while peak occupancy rose to over 95 per cent between 16 December and 30 December 2025.
“Total hotel booking revenue was estimated at N3.9 billion.’’
He said that revenue from food, beverages and breakfast services stood at about N2.05 billion, reflecting longer visitor stays and increased spending.
Between November and December 2025, according to him, more than 370,000 tourists visited major tourist sites including Obudu Mountain Resort, Kwa Falls and Marina Resort, representing nearly 80 per cent growth.
He said beyond hospitality, the festival continues to energise Calabar’s creative and nightlife economy.
Major ticketed events, he explained, included Funfest, Queen of Humanity and Calabar Fashion Show, generated an estimated N130 million, while five leading nightclubs recorded combined revenues of about N460 million.
