An Appraisal of Tourism Development in Cross River State: Pre-Post Era Analysis, Nigeria

In Cross River State, tourism development has significantly transformed Calabar into a natural paradise where most fun-seekers and visitors wish to visit. Although the tourism development indicators in Cross River State have been quite overwhelming yet scholars have not been able to x-ray the pre-post era of tourism development with specific reference to Calabar which is one of the tourism hotspots in Cross River State which is the basis of this research, to appraise the pre-post era of tourism development in Calabar. A check list was designed and distributed in the various tourism potential sites and attractions which captured the tourist arrivals and remuneration to staff and the problems associated with tourism development in Calabar during the pre-post era of tourism development in Calabar. Findings have shown that there is a rapid growth in tourism development in the post-era with respect to visitors’ arrivals and remuneration to staff compared to the pre-era of tourism development in Calabar. Although, it was discovered that tourism development in the post-era was highly associated with socio-economic problems compared to pre-era of tourism development. Therefore, an effective mechanism must be put in place to ensure effective and a sustainable tourism development in Calabar.