Carnival Calabar Chairman Urges Private Sector to Drive Festival’s Future Growth

The Chairman of Carnival Calabar, Gabe Onah, has called for stronger private sector participation to sustain the internationally acclaimed street carnival.

Speaking at the 21st Akwaaba African Travel Market on Tuesday in Lagos, Onah said the festival, which turns 20 this year, was conceived as a tool for community engagement and economic development but must now outgrow its heavy reliance on government.

“Carnival Calabar must breathe beyond the stranglehold of government. For sustainability, the private sector has to take more than a passing interest,” he stated.

Onah acknowledged the support of successive Cross River governors—from Donald Duke to Bassey Otu—for keeping the festival alive. He also highlighted the warmth of Calabar’s people, the city’s serenity, and its natural beauty as unique factors that set the carnival apart.

Onah further stressed the importance of collaboration in tourism, praising Akwaaba as a platform that unites rather than divides stakeholders. He identified emerging tourism trends, including digital-savvy global tourists, AI-driven promotions, family-centered travel, and rising demand for cultural souvenirs, noting that these informed upgrades such as transforming the children’s carnival into a junior carnival.

Figures from the Cross River Tourism Bureau show the 2024 Calabar Carnival attracted over 300,000 tourists between November and December, a 42% rise from 2023. The festival drew an estimated 450,000 onsite spectators, with global viewership surpassing 1.3 billion through DSTV and online streaming.

The economic impact was equally impressive: hotels recorded N2.79 billion in bookings, food sales hit N900 million, while nightlife activities generated N400 million. Visitor transportation alone accounted for N8.87 billion, confirming the carnival’s growing role as a key driver of tourism and revenue in Cross River State.

Onah concluded that while Carnival Calabar has proven its value as both a cultural showcase and an economic engine, its future growth hinges on greater private sector investment to ensure long-term sustainability.