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Assessment of the Effect of Cultural Tourism on Sustainable Development in Selected Communities in Abia State, Nigeria

Anunobi-Maliki, Omelebele U., Oji, Esther O., Okpaleke, Vivian C., Lilian Falodun, Onyenokulu, O. Vivian

Abstract

The study examined the economic and socio-cultural influences of cultural tourism on sustainable development in host communities in Abia State, Nigeria. The study identified cultural activities occurring in various sites of the host communities. The general objective of the study is to assess the effect of cultural tourism on sustainable development in selected communities in Abia State, Nigeria. Two research questions were raised and two hypotheses were formulated and tested at a 0.05 level of significance, the data generated for the study were analyzed using mean and z-test statistical tools. The decision rule for mean stated that any mean above 3.0 was considered as positive and the decision rule of z-test stated that the null hypothesis will be rejected if the Z-cal is greater than the z-tab. The study was carried out in five communities, Umuopara in Umuahia south Local Government Area, Elu in Ohafia Local Government Area, Uturu in Isuikwuato Local Government Area, Ibom in Arochukwu Local Government Area, Amapu-Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area, all located in Abia State Nigeria. The population for the study was 62,348 and the sample size comprised of 100 residents from the five communities, this was obtained using Taro Yamane formula. The major findings were; the residents were aware of cultural tourism and participate in the various cultural activities occurring, the economic and socio-cultural lives of the host communities were improved by the cultural tourism, the social ills are increased during the cultural activities, the communities still had a long way in understanding and practicing sustainable development. Based on the findings, it was recommended that provision of amenities and infrastructure will help increase tourists’ visits, proper management of cultural tourism will help transform the economy of the communities, polices regarding the practice of sustainable development should be enforced as this will preserve the environment and the socio-cultural areas of the communities. Keynote: Cultural Tourism, sustainable development, tourist, host communities

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