Mr Sammy Eshiet, an entrepreneur in the tourism sector, has commended the Akwa Ibom Government for providing requisite infrastructure for tourism development in Akwa Ibom.

Eshiet, the proprietor of Precious World Resort in Eket, Akwa Ibom, made the commendation in an interview with newsmen recently in Eket.

Eshiet, who said that the resort would soon be inaugurated, noted that “we in the hospitality industry were encouraged by the bold steps taken by Gov. Godswill Akpabio in opening up the state to tourists and investors.

“The international airport and the Tropicana Entertainment Complex will boost tourism and make the state a destination of choice.

“The tourism sector in the state is looking up and we are encouraged to invest in facilities that will compliment what the State Government is doing.

“Tourism operators have identified tourist sites in Akwa Ibom and developed a holistic tourism development strategy which we shall present to the government and seek its collaboration to actualise the plan,” he said.

Eshiet, however, listed security and power as major challenges facing the sector, saying that hotel operators were already cooperating with security agencies to ensure that hoteliers did not harbour criminals.

The tourism operator noted that power was crucial to the sector, adding that guests who needed uninterrupted power supply for leisure and business resorted to hotels.

He said that the additional cost of providing electricity was enormous and  had forced many operators to either close shop or run at a loss, stressing that such enterprises usually laid off workers to survive.