Tourism and Economic Development in Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the study
The main objective of the study is to examine tourism and economic development in Nigeria.
Specifically, the study sought to examine the following objectives:
- To examine the concept of recreation, leisure, tourism and the opportunity cost of tourists in Nigeria.
- To examine recreation, leisure and tourism organizations in Nigeria.
- To examine the market for recreation, leisure and tourism products in Nigeria
- To examine the demand and supply of tourism in Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
RECREATION, LEISURE AND TOURISM ORGANIZATIONS IN NIGERIA
As discussed earlier, Recreation, Leisure and Tourism organizations are organizations responsible for producing goods and services for use in leisure time, organizations seeking to influence the use of leisure time and organizations supplying recreation, leisure and tourism organizations. Given below are the top Recreation, Leisure and Tourism organizations in Nigeria.
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It is the leading international organization in the field of tourism, which promotes tourism as a driver of economic development, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide. The objectives of the UNWTO are to promote and develop sustainable tourism to contribute to economic development, international understanding, peace, prosperity and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.
Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC)
The NTDC is the most important regulatory body in Nigeria. The board plays a key role in policy formulation for the tourism industry as well as stakeholders. It is more like a compass that determines the direction of the sector. The major responsibility of this government agency is to promote and develop tourism. Their activities have repositioned the industry to a large extent and this has encouraged international travelers to select Nigeria as their choice destination.
CHAPTER THREE
THE MARKET FOR RECREATION, LEISURE AND TOURISM PRODUCTS IN NIGERIA
Domestic tourism market reform and the opening of the sector to external competition are expected to encourage quality improvement in tourist assets, increase absorptive capacity of rapid technological and economic development through the provision of investment and expertise to operate modernized tourism services.
Tourism will not yield the desired benefit, if its product and service does not get to the final consumer (tourist). As observed by Cox & Shapiro (1964), there is always a separation between the producer (destination) and the buyer (Tourist). This “gap” must be filled to ensure that tourism contributes effectively in the area of promoting economic development, alleviating poverty, creating jobs as well as contributing to the other macroeconomic objectives of the country. It should be noted that the “link” between tourism products and services with the tourist is tourism marketing.
CHAPTER THREE
THE MARKET FOR RECREATION, LEISURE AND TOURISM PRODUCTS IN NIGERIA
Domestic tourism market reform and the opening of the sector to external competition are expected to encourage quality improvement in tourist assets, increase absorptive capacity of rapid technological and economic development through the provision of investment and expertise to operate modernized tourism services.
Tourism will not yield the desired benefit, if its product and service does not get to the final consumer (tourist). As observed by Cox & Shapiro (1964), there is always a separation between the producer (destination) and the buyer (Tourist). This “gap” must be filled to ensure that tourism contributes effectively in the area of promoting economic development, alleviating poverty, creating jobs as well as contributing to the other macroeconomic objectives of the country. It should be noted that the “link” between tourism products and services with the tourist is tourism marketing.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUPPLY AND COSTS
Protected natural resources, cultural land mark, ancestral ties, festivals are some of the attractive sites that attract a tourist to one country rather than another. However, there are some qualitative resources and political factors such as climatic condition that also influences the tourist choices. Political variable as a factor can influence the preference of one destination over the other.
In relation to tourism, a tourist will consider the costs of visiting a particular destination which may include hotel charges, transport, health/safety expenses, feeding expenses etc and the perceived rewards/benefit from that destination. If the perceived reward outweighs the cost, the tourist will embark on the journey. Moreover, in term of choosing a particular destination over the other, a tourist judges the attractiveness of a relationship by comparing the outcome it will provides with the outcome available in other alternative destinations. This means that tourism does not only mean a relaxation in a hotel bed, visit to the beach, but rather an amalgam of many parts fused together or packaged for the tourist to consume at the destination where it is produced or supplied.
CHAPTER SIX
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Conclusion
Based on the finding of the study, it is concluded that Nigeria should stimulate tourism sector so as to enable it contribute maximally to the gross domestic product. This is based on the fact that there exist a significant relationship between tourism contributions and gross domestic product. The implication of these finding is that Nigeria should stimulate her economy in order to enhance her gross domestic product, and tourism serves as a means to this.
Domestic tourism market reform and the opening of the sector to external competition are expected to encourage quality improvement in tourist assets, increase absorptive capacity of rapid technological and economic development through the provision of investment and expertise to operate modernized tourism services.
6.2 Recommendations
It is recommended that the Nigerian government should pursue its reform agenda very strongly. This would address issues in transportation sector, health sector and other sectors that can impact on tourism. Besides, the following are also recommended; researchers who are interested in the subject of determining the financial contribution of tourism to the gross domestic product should go beyond the scope of this study; and similar study could be carried out, but by investigating other variables that could have some influence on tourism; this is in order to enhance generalization of result.
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