Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort

Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

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The Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort is a large and impressive development located in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State in southern Nigeria. It was created to combine business and tourism in one place, making it a unique destination in West Africa. The idea for Tinapa came from former Governor Donald Duke, who wanted to boost the state’s economy and attract both local and international visitors. The resort officially opened in 2007 and is located along the beautiful Calabar River, just a short drive from the city center and the airport.

Tinapa was built to support business activities, especially trade and retail. It has a huge shopping area with space for both wholesale and retail stores. There are four large shopping emporiums, smaller line shops, and warehouses. Because Tinapa is in a Free Trade Zone, businesses there enjoy special benefits like tax breaks and duty-free imports. The resort also has modern conference and exhibition halls where companies can hold meetings, trade fairs, and other events. One of the highlights is Studio Tinapa, a film production center that supports Nigeria’s movie industry, Nollywood. To keep everything running smoothly, the resort has its own power plant to provide constant electricity.

But Tinapa isn’t just about business—it’s also a fun place to relax and enjoy yourself. The Tinapa Waterpark is a major attraction, with exciting water slides, a lazy river, wave pools, and areas for kids to play. There’s also a games arcade with fun activities like bumper cars and mini basketball. For entertainment, the resort has a cinema with eight screens, a casino, nightclubs, and restaurants. One popular spot is the Fisherman’s Wharf, where visitors can enjoy local food by the lake. There’s even a marina for boat rides and a peaceful artificial lake for relaxing.

For people who want to stay overnight, Tinapa has a large hotel called the Tinapa Lakeside Hotel, which has over 200 rooms. There are also plans for luxury villas and apartments for longer stays. The resort is easy to reach, with good roads and a monorail that connects it to the nearby Calabar International Convention Centre, although the monorail hasn’t always been in use.