Abstract
In Nigeria, tourism has been identified as having the potential to contribute to national economic development in terms of foreign exchange earnings as well as to revitalize the economies of remote rural areas with low agricultural potential. The tourism development potential lies in the country‘s abundant tourism resources, in form of wildlife experiences, cultural heritage and the famous Obudu Cattle rang. The main objective of the study was to assess tourism growth and employment creation in Nigeria with specific reference to Cross River National Park and the Cross River National Park. The study examined the influence of tourism in job creation.
The study used case study research design. The research used both qualitative and quantitative methods in data collection and analysis. In-depth interviews with selected people were used. The findings indicated that creation of jobs in many tourism businesses such as hotels, motels, lodges and infrastructure such as road network and the International Airport. Jobs such as waiters, cooks, receptionists and chefs, just to mention a few is a case in point.. However, Cross River National Park and the Cross River National Park were still facing challenges such as expensive accommodations for lodges, hotels, and motels as well as high visa fees and other taxes for tourists. Against this background Nigeria cannot attract many tourists to come and enjoy all the attractions which in turn can bring more foreign exchange and create more jobs inform of more constructions of hotels, lodges and road networks.
The study recommended that the government could reduce or remove visa fees and other barriers to tourism development so as to enhance employment creation opportunities. Tourism enterprises could also be encouraged to make accommodation affordable so as to help increase tourists‘ flow into Cross River National Park. Above all, government should take keen interest to invest in tourism-oriented infrastructure such as roads; and encourage the private sector to invest in building more hotels and lodges.
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the World (Seth and Bhat, 2020). Every year millions of people around the world move and travel in search of adventure. They are attracted by several tourist attractions. Consequently, it is reckoned that tourism is a major source of employment creation and incomes in many countries. According to Roe and Urguhart (2015), tourism generates an estimated 11 percent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employs 200 million people and transports nearly 700 million international travelers annually. Nigeria envisaged two major considerations as intervention measures at national and zonal levels with main focus on infrastructure rehabilitation and development in the tourism sector as one of the economic sectors.
Arising from its potential and wide participation in the economy, tourism therefore is perhaps among the largest sectors in the development of Nigeria‘s economy. This recognition stems from the fact that tourism is a powerful tool for economic growth in developing countries such as Nigeria for a number of reasons. Tourism is seen to be not only the largest industry in most countries, but provides the largest participation in any country. It indirectly offers a wide range of activities, yet its linkage with other industries is a factor which promotes and sustains much of the economic sector (WTO, 2017). Tourism in Nigeria, however, faces a number of challenges. Firstly, very little is known about its contribution to the GDP in the country. Secondly, its role in the social and economic sector has been downplayed and grossly undervalued. The Satellite Account conducted at a Pilot level (WTO, 2017) revealed that Nigeria travel and tourism economy directly and indirectly accounted for creation of 52,927 jobs which represented 3.7 percent of total employment: K731.3 billion Kwacha, making 4.5percent of GDP.
Further, arguments supporting the contribution of this industry can be attributed to the fact that much of Nigeria tourism products are greatly undeveloped. Currently, tourism in Nigeria is largely based on wildlife and the Obudu Cattle rang - these products are also largely underutilized. It is the general understanding that large growth in tourism will depend on the development of tourism products as well as the development of infrastructure coupled with aggressive promotion of the tourism sector. This recognition for a country like Nigeria, tourism is considered to be of critical importance because of its likely positive impact on the country‘s economy and rural development in particular. The contribution of tourism to the economy comes through employment creation, foreign exchange generation and its multiplier effects on other sectors of the economy. Hence, tourism is pursued as a serious development strategy for poor Third World Countries (Bowman, 1999). Despite this recognition, there is presently little information on the nature of jobs that are being created through tourism growth in Nigeria, especially in Cross River National Park and the Cross River National Park. It is in this context that this study was undertaken.
1.2 Statement of the problem
Cross River National Park, in particular, is the tourism capital of Nigeria and the best known tourist destination in the country. It is home to the Cross River National Park, a world heritage site and the biggest natural site and most valuable of all tourist attractions in the country. While Cross River National Park has important natural tourist attractions, and therefore great potential for employment creation through tourism, there is little information on the development of tourism in Cross River National Park and the Cross River National Park. As a consequence, not much is known about its influence on job creation and the nature of these jobs. This study specifically sought to shed light on tourism growth and employment creation in Cross River National Park.
1.1 Objectives of the study
1.1.1 Main Objective
The main objective of the study was to assess tourism growth and employment creation in Nigeria with specific reference to Cross River National Park and the Cross River National Park.
1.1.2 Specific objectives
More specifically, the study sought to:
i. identify the dominant forms of tourism in Cross River National Park and the Cross River National Park;
ii. identify the factors that influence the growth of tourism sector in Cross River National Park and the Cross River National Park;
iii. Examine the types of jobs created by the tourism sector in Cross River National Park and the Cross River National Park
1.2 Research Question
How has the growth of tourism contributed to employment creation in Cross River National Park in the past five years?
1.3 Sub Research Questions
The study sought to address the following questions:
i. What are the dominant forms of tourism in Cross River National Park and the Cross River National Park?
ii. What factors influence the growth of tourism sector in Cross River National Park and the Cross River National Park?
iii. What types of jobs are being created by the tourism sector in Cross River National Park and the Cross River National Park?
1.4 Significance of the study
This study could be justified on the following grounds:
i. The findings would inform policymakers particularly in the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (MTENR) on measures that could be used to enhance tourism and employment growth;
ii. It would contribute to the body of knowledge on the role that tourism plays in job creation in Third World countries and Nigeria in particular; and,
iii. The study might be useful to future researchers interested in investigating the relationship between tourism growth and employment creation in Nigeria, especially Cross River National Park and the Cross River National Park.
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