By Asare Asare, Calabar

The national vice chairman of the Federal Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN), Mr Peter Ofuka says the association has put in place strategies to impact the tourism sector of Cross River state.

Ofuka disclosed that FTAN South South, FTAN Cross River chapter, Chairmen and Secretaries of trade Tourism Associations in the state, met and resolved to work at boosting the subsector.

He said they have paid courtesy visits to the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the state as well as the Managing Director of the state Tourism Bureau to concretize ways of collaboration.

To bolster its activities in the state, FTAN will formally inaugurate the Cross River State Tourism Writers Association as a way of complementing them.

The writers association has a veteran journalist, Miss Florence Kekong as its pioneer chairman.

Kekong is leading a team of other seasoned reporters and veterans, who have documented tourism activities in the state over many years.

She was elected on Monday during the maiden meeting of the association in Calabar.

Speaking after her election, Kekong, a former secretary of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, in the State, said it became imperative to galvanise their editorial outputs to project the huge tourism potentials and sites, which inundate the state.

She disclosed that as part of her activities, the Association will pull resources to publish a quarterly compendium on tourist sites, agro–tourism and other potentials in order to also bolster the hospitality industry as well as efforts of locals in host communities.

Others elected along with her include Vitalis Ugoh as vice chairman, Eyo Charles as secretary; assistant secretary, Ben Akwaaji, financial secretary, Mike Abang, PRO Ago Raymond and others.