Nigeria to benefit from Kenya’s cultural tourism experience

By PHILIP MWAKIO

KENYA: Nigeria is set to benchmark with Kenya on cultural tourism and handicrafts to boost her tourism numbers.

According to Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), Cross River State of Nigeria is keen on learning from Kenya’s cultural tourism product that has become a pulling factor for tourists besides beaches and wildlife safaris.

A statement from the board quoted the Director of Culture in Calabar, the Cross River State capital city Dr Mary Teresa Agba as saying that the the State has a lot to learn from Kenya as the city seeks to brand itself as a cultural destination.

“Besides the wildlife and beach safari that we have known Kenya for, we are keen on learning on how to develop and repackage culture as a product as well as embracing sustainable tourism through handicraft business,” she said. She said empowering the communities through handicrafts was one way of ensuring sustainability as well as embracing of Eco-tourism practices that is becoming popular.

“We are aware of Kenya’s zeal towards eco-tourism by giving communities priorities in areas such as handicrafts, community-made wares among other opportunities that have direct impact on local communities where tourism is being carried out,” Agba said in the statement.

Calabar festival

Calabar city is a tourism hub for a Nigeria attracting slightly over 0.5 million tourists a year through the famous Calabar Festival that usually takes place between November and December.

The festival showcases culture like marriage, cuisine, costume and dance.