Efik women from Calabar performing their traditional dance on the street during Calabar Carnival Festival at their capital Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. In recent times, Africa has been said to be the fastest growing tourism region with international arrivals reaching a 7.5 percent increase over that of the previous year with 360 million tourists recorded in 1998, 25 million (6.94%) visited Africa (Odunsanwo, 2009)
The World Tourism Organization (WTO, 2004) rating Nigeria as the most visited country in West Africa, projections had it that if benefits and activities of travels and tourism is utilized effectively, it could be a force for positive growth and economic especially for a developing state such as Cross River State (Ajake, 2008).
Over the past years, the Cross River State government has used this carnival to drive its tourism sector and provide exposure for its citizens, as well as develop its vast tourism sites and infrastructure such as the Obudu Ranch Resort, the Tinapa Business Resort, Marina Resort.
"Costumes were established into the Carnival in 2004 to make it more sophisticated and Comparable to the famous Brazil Carnival. Cross River State is a famous tourist destination boosting of the Obudu Mountain Resort, Kwa Water fall which was the site for Miss World photo shot in 2002, Drill Ranch,National Museum, Marina Resort(Slave History Museum), Calabar Botanic garden. For Business visitors Cross River state also has the Free trade Zone and the Tinapa Resort."
Efik women of Calabar dancing on the street of Calabar during the annual Christmas Calabar Carnival Festival at Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. The carnival which begin on every 1st of December and last till 31st December has boosted the cultural mosaic of Nigeria people while entertaining the millions of spectators within and outside the State, and boosting industry for all stakeholders. Calabar Carnival resembles its model- carnival or "mas' in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T)- Calabar Carnival is a street parade that is organized by bands with section of performers dressed in identical costumes and masks.
There is a loud music, dancing, competitions, floats and even Cross River State band. However, Calabar Carnival is unique in that it is a Trinidadian-style carnival held in an African city without pre-existing Caribbean influence (Amanda B Carlson, 2010). Carnival's community spirit is the result of the cumulative efforts of many talented artists –musicians, costume designers, dancers, street theatre performers and sound engineers. Carnival arts are now recognized by the Arts Council as a "combined art": one that, at its best, brings together many art forms and traditions in new innovative production and performance (Agnes, 2004)