Domestic tourism is the answer to the ailing sector in the country, Chief Silas Amachree has suggested.Chief Silas Amachree, who was in Calabar for the Calabar Carnival said over reliance on foreign tourists has to turn around the country’s tourism would be a mirage if necessary attention is not paid to attracting Nigerians to visit various part of the country.

For some body who was part of the carnival on Sunday to have made such a comment is not surprising as the Governor told reporters that “I saw a lot of foreigners, Nigerians and people from Port Harcourt who came to spend Christmas vacation in Calabar”.

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has decried the lack of articulated policy that supports tourism development and promotion in Nigeria as obtained in other countries in Africa.

The Traditional Ruler of Ibi in Taraba State, Alhaji Abubakar Salihu Bawuro III has solicited the cooperation and assistance of the
apex Tourism Regulatory body in Nigeria _ the Nigerian Tourism Development Development Corporation in fast tracking the promotion and development of the Nwoyo Fishing Festival.

Decline in demand for European destinations in 2009 will ease, with some instances of growth in 2010. But any upturns in demand from emerging markets in Asia won’t be enough to offset continued flat or negative demand from American and European markets.