THE ROLE OF TOURISM IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AKWA IBOM STATE

ABSTRACT

The study examines the role of tourism in the development of Akwa Ibom State, specifically the study sought to find out the effects of availability of infrastructure, adequate funding and government policies on the development of tourism in Akwa Ibom State. The study adopted the survey method and used purposive sampling techniques to select 60 respondents from a population of 307 from staff of ministry of culture and tourism and tourist centres. The questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection. Results indicated that inadequate funding, ineffective government policy and poor infrastructure as factors responsible for the down turn in the tourism sub-sector in Akwa Ibom State. The researcher recommends that adequate provision should be made in future state budgets for tourism. Moreover, the result oriented policies should be formulated to strengthen the tourism sub-sector. Finally, modern basic facilities and good access road should be provided to promotes comfort and ease transportation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Title Page –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –      

Declaration        –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –      

Certification –      –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –

Dedication –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –      

Acknowledgement –    –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –      

Abstract –  –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –      

Table of Content –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1    background       –       –       –       –       –       –       –       –

1.2    Statement of Problem –       –       –       –       –       –       –

1.3    Research Question      –       –       –       –       –       –       –

1.4    Objectives of he Study

1.5    Significance of the Study

1.6    Scope of the Study

1.7    limitation of the Study

1.8    Organization of the Study

1.9    Definition of Terms     –       –       –       –       –       –       –      

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND THEORETICAL                                       FRAMEWORK

3.1    Research Method

3.2    Description of the Study Area

3.3    Population of the Study

3.4    Sample of the Study

3.5    Research Instrument

3.6    Method of Data Collection

3.7    Method of Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND                                                       RECOMMENDATION

4.1    Summary of the Study

4.2    Conclusion

4.3    Recommendation

        References

        Questionnaire

LIST OF TABLES

PAGE

Table 1:   Annual Budegeting Allocation to

Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Evaluation Report

Table 2:   Answer to the Research Question

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background of the Study

        Every country including Nigeria has its sources for socio-economic development. One of such sources is tourism. Tourism can be said to be socio-economic activities that deal with attractions and welfares of visitors into locality for purposes of leisure, recreation, business and cultural exchanges (Arua, 2002). Investment experts opined that tourism stimulated economic growth, generates foreign exchange and contributes to the domestic earnings of a country. It has also been argued that the industry is the biggest revenue earner in the world due to the rapid transformation and communication. Tourism could also be said to be an alternative strategy for sustainable diversification of a country’s economy. It is one of the fastest growing economic activities because of the veritable platform it creates for foreign exchange. Besides, it is a sector that contributes to a better understanding of places, people and culture. Expansion of tourism increases the relative price of non-traded goods, improves the tertiary terms of trade and yield a gain in revenue. In the area of poverty alleviation, tourism creates employment opportunities for both the educated and the uneducated at all levels. Tourism which serves as a catalyst for national and regional development encourages rural-urban infrastructural development to the credit of the state it is sited.

        Some of the developed countries of the world such as United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom and France have utilized the enormous benefits of tourism to develop their economies. These countries make fortunes from booming industry for the overall development of their countries. According to World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), there were 1,087 billion international tourist arrivals world wide in 2013, France was the most visited country by international tourist in 2013, with 84.7 million arrivals. (Andah 2013) UNWTO further stated that international tourism generated $ 1.4 trillion last year in export earnings.

        The continents of Africa, particularly Nigeria has some of the best tourist sites in the world, but unfortunately, these great tourist potentials are being under utilized and poorly managed, thus adding little or nothing to the economy. For instance, it is sad that no African country was among the world’s top (10) tourist destinations in 2013. In fact, going by the various attractive tourist destinations in Nigeria; it is expected that the tourism industry would have been the second largest contributor to the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP after oil, but the reverse has been the case over the years.

        Nigeria’s over dependence on oil has relegated the sectors of the economy to the background as well as affected the country’s foreign exchange earnings. In Nigeria today, we have the Yankari National Park, Obudu cattle Ranch, Argungu Fishing festival, Ogunta Lake, Olumo rock. Being blessed with these huge tourist sites, Akwa Ibom State is no exception. Akwa Ibom State is quiet lucky to be one of the few states with natural wonders for tourist attractions. For instance, the Blue-River in Ukanafun, Ibeno Beach in Ibeno, Qua River water-side in Eket, Ibom Tropicana in Uyo, Lemeridien hotel in Uruan, Craft arts in Ikot Ekpene, Amalgamation house in Ikot-Abasi, Orom Museum Uyo, Mbo Forest Game Reserve in Mbo etc. these tourism industries in Akwa Ibom State promises an unlimited investment potentials.

1.2   Statement of Problem

        The role of tourism in socio-economic development any nation cannot be undermined. Countries that are not endowed with physical natural resources such as oil may sustain their living by developing the tourism sub-sector of the economy. Tourism according to Arua (2002), is a socio-economic activities that deal with attraction and welfare of visitors into locality for purposes of leisure, recreation, business, cultural exchange etc.

        The implication is that tourism environment should be serene, hospitable and human friendly. However, it has been observed that most tourist sites and centres in Akwa Ibom State are characterized by inhabitable and dilapidated structures, irregular power supply, unfascinating landscape, poor access roads, unavailability of communication gadget in decent drinking water and security. Moreover, natural habitats that suppose to be transformed into tourist attraction sites are more often destroyed by communities in which they are located. This may be attributable to ignorance or lack of enabling laws and policies by the government for its safe guard.

        Examination of these deplorable states of our tourist and resort centres in Akwa Ibom State motive my interest to investigate and identify factors that militates against tourism development.