THE ROLE OF CULTURAL TOURISM TO COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT IN CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA
Bessong, Columbus Deku Ph.D & Bessong, Napoleon Osang Ph.D
Department of Continuing Education and Development Studies,
University of Calabar, Calabar
&
Usua, Oku Bassey Ph.D
Development of Curriculum and Teaching,
University of Calabar, Calabar
Email:
Abstract
The study investigated the Role of Cultural Tourism to Community Development in Cross River State, Nigeria. One research question and one hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population for this study consisted of 5458 respondents (3928 tourism staff and 1530 community leaders) in the three senatorial zones in Cross River State. A sample of 357 respondents was used for this study. The instrument used for this study was a structured questionnaire titled “Role of Cultural Tourism to Community Development Questionnaire (RCTCDQ)” designed by the researchers. Data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and t-test statistical tools in testing hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings from the study revealed among others that with products such as Calabar Festival and Carnival Calabar, Cross River State may already have started the process of economic diversification from oil driven economy to ecological/cultural tourism-driven economy of the future. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that government should champion national-re-orientation on the need to preserve our cultural and historical sites within our various communities in Cross River State.
Keywords: Role, Culture, Tourism, Community Development. DOWNLOAD FULL PDF