ECONOMIC IMPACT OF EFFECTIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT – STUDY OF GOMBE STATE

 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF EFFECTIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT – STUDY OF GOMBE STATE

ABSTRACT

This study titled accessing the economic impact of transportation system in Tourism development in Nigeria using a case study of Gombe metropolis Gombe State. The purpose is to find out the impact of transportation on tourism development and its contribution in the development of the nation. In order to address the study adequately, personal interview were employed, questionnaires were designed and administered to the sample that was randomly selected. Thus, the data collected were analyzed using simple percentage method. However, the study was able to recommend that private sectors should be encouraged to participate in facilitating the development and growth of tourism and transportation sector in Nigeria.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

According to Iwena (2000) in his book Essential Geography” describe Tourism as the phenomena, which involve the visiting of people to places of interest where they can relax, derive pleasure and entertainment. Tourism is a basic means of attracting visitors to appreciate the material and human potentials that abound in such a place and this is further enhanced via transportation if properly harnesses can be utilized for the development and progress of a place. Tourism may be seen to consist of a sense of encounters in which visitor interact with the host. Thus, it simply defines as the movement of people from their origin to places of destination for recreational purposes. The main point to be noted from the brief description above is that it is concerned with how man travels from one place to another for leisure recreational purposes. According to Ogunlade (2004) states that tourism is God’s own given gift to man in the sense that any tourist attraction center is beautiful, thrilling and marvelous sight to behold which leave you thinking of how great God is to Mankind. According to Ogunlade (2005) states that the journey of Nigeria Tourism began September 25th 1962 when the Government took its first moved by establishing the Nigeria Tourism Association ( NTA). The NTA a government body primarily charged with the responsibility of developing and promoting tourism in Nigeria. Mean while a decree 54 of 1976 was promulgated due to the fact that NTA could not meet the expected challenges. Therefore the Nigeria Tourism Board (NTB) was established which further led to the establishment of the Nigeria Tourism Development corporation (NTDC) which is the government parastals and at present as a co-ordinating body in Nigeria. According to Ogunlade (2005), In July 1990 a new tourism policy was launched by the Federal Government which further explained the reason why both the public and private sectors should get involve in the tourism industry. Among these public and private sectors and other bodies that were established value this policy was the Directorate of food, Road and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) and the mass transits system to see how the rural areas that harbor most of our tourist product and potential can be made accessible to facilitate intrastate and interstate travels.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Tourism and transportation sectors have great concern over the increasing fall of state affairs which has be on blamed on the following. Tourism in Nigeria has suffered a lot of set back during the last few years due to a lot of factors such as frequent ethnic and religions clashes and hostage taking for example in oil producing areas, which have tampered with the security system of the nation. Furthermore, available roads to most of our attractions are not motor-able, lack of electricity and potable accommodation is a luxury in most of our resorts while most of them are still without communication facilities despite the advent of Global system mobile communication in the country lack of awareness programme to encourage people to visit places. Thus, inadequate funds for rehabilitation of facilities

 1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

As the tourism industry is of rapid growing segment of today’s economy and consideration have been given to the importance of transportation on tourism only. Therefore, the purpose of this study centered on the following. It is also aimed at looking into the various problems that face the effective uses of transportation system and how these problems can be solved. The economic impact of transportation system in tourism development will be adequately highlighted. Finally, it is hoped that through this study government and the private sector would see the need to provide the necessary facilities/ resources for effective transportation in tourism industry.

1.4 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH QUESTION/HYPOTHESES

The following research questions are some of the questions to be used in the process of the study. -Are there any relationship between transportation and tourism? -Does government participation be encouraged on the transportation industry? -Does the extent of transport development in Nigeria determine that of tourism? -Are there any impact of transportation system on tourism development in Nigeria?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The importance of the study will facilitate the significance of transportation system in tourism development. It will also stimulate researcher (s) to further investigate way of improving transportation system in tourism industry. Finally, the research will tend to highlight the relationship between transportation system and the tourism industry.

 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF EFFECTIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT – STUDY OF GOMBE STATE