Poised to boost tourism
business in Cross River State, a private tour operator firm, NovaRosta, has brought in a Double Decker Bus with 75 seater capacity, the first ever in the country.
Launching the bus which was graced by tourism stakeholders and hoteliers in Calabar, the managing director of NovaRosta, Miss Geraldine Itoe, said the cost of the bus and its shipment was over N10 million.
The Double Decker which also has an open roof for large number of passengers to sit out and take in the beauty of the environment while on motion is an initiative that will offer tourists finest sightseeing experience, Miss Itoe said.
Explaining that the initiative had taken two years to manifest, Itoe said “Our goal is to provide safe, fun and reliable services with an unparalleled customer service to keep client coming back for more. To achieve this, we have carefully crafted special tour routes, packages, deals and tailored activities that will allow us to achieve the ultimate goal of creating delightful experiences.”
According to her, the DD Tour Service is a virgin concept to tourism market in Nigeria and West Africa.
“We have deliberately come in to add value and boost tourism business in this state and we hope that holiday makers and tourists would see it as one way to get real value,” she said.
“The bus, along with other long buses in firm’s gallery, will mainly be for hire and sight-seeing at very moderate fees. We are going to operate all year round, especially during the high season. We have medical, safety, maintenance and other professional experts that will always be on board during any tour,” she added.
A senior official of the state tourism board, Mrs Patricia Ogon said the initiative of the company was most welcome as the state government believed and encouraged private participation to drive and optimise the tourism business.
“We believe that with this tourism booster initiative, more people will want to return for their holidays in Calabar. This is going to add better value and turn-around in our tourism drive,” she said.
Chairman of Cross  Rivers State Hoteliers Association, Charles Ogar assured that stakeholders in the hotel and entertainment   industry would be made to appreciate the initiative, which he believed would attract many more visitors.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

Chairman of the occassion, Emerilus Prof. Nimi D. Briggs (left) shaking one of the guest during the symposium, in honour of Prof. Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele and Esitimi Barigo while Deputy Vice- Chamcellor Prof. E. Nduka watch, recently