The 32- day Calabar Christmas Festival, also called the biggest street party in the country, came to an end last Saturday just as Cross River State got into the record books with a public presentation of a bumper Christmas Hamper tagged the biggest Christmas Hamper ever recently.
The Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Otunba Segun Runsewe who formally presented the mega hamper mid December at the festival said it was part of NTDC’s contributions towards sustaining the tourist product.
While making the presentation at the Millennium Park, Calabar with Governor Liyel Imoke and wife, Obioma, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, represented by Senator Ewa Henshaw and Mrs. Florence Ita – Giwa among others, Runsewe said the hamper is the biggest so far in this clime.
Runsewe also said the hamper aptly reflects Nigeria as a destination of choice, as it contains specific tourist products from each of the 36 states and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), noting that it connotes the cultural value of the country.
“As from this year, this basket, which has all the cultural contents of all 36 states and the Federal Capital, Abuja ... Our cultural content is what should be promoted. So, today this basket would be unveiled by the Senate President and on the 31st of December, every item in this basket will be given to foreigners who have attended this yearly event,’’ he said.
  The director general said Calabar Festival should be a yearly rallying point for all Nigerians and foreign visitors, a place people would see and enjoy the best of Nigeria. “Today we are here to make history. Carnival Calabar has the biggest street party in the whole of Africa. Nobody can take this away. We are using this unique opportunity to wish all foreigners who come to Nigeria the best. We find Calabar to be the best spot for networking and to communicate to the whole world,’’ he added.
The Senate President, David Mark, through Senator Henshaw, commended NTDC for the bold and creative initiative, which he said speaks volumes of its commitment to developing and promoting Nigerian tourism.
While urging the various stakeholders in the tourism industry to emulate the good example of Runsewe and ensure a forthright contribution to the industry, the Senate President said the hamper is a big boost to the Calabar Festival, as it would serve to attract more people to the festival and the country at large.
“This Carnival stands out as one of the veritable platforms on which we can achieve this purpose.  An example is what we are witnessing today, this unique and biggest cultural Hamper in Africa. This cultural hamper represents all the 36 states and FCT,’’ said Mark, adding that with its size, Nigeria has recorded another first in tourism product development.