CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
1.8 DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION
2.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.3 EMPIRICAL REVIEW
2.4 SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN
3.2 AREA OF STUDY
3.3 POPULATION OF THE STUDY
3.4 RESEARCH SAMPLE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
3.5 INSTRUMENT FOR DATA COLLECTION
3.6 VALIDITY OF THE INSTRUMENT
3.7 METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION
3.8 METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 SUMMARY
5.2 CONCLUSION
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
REFRENCE
APPENDIX
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
In Nigeria, the traditional approach to poverty reduction has largely been direct, in terms of interventions related to basic empowerment of the poor, primarily through the skill-credit-subsidy route. Tourism, per se, has not been consciously integrated into the poverty reduction programme, though tourism related activities in Nigeria, as in other parts of the world, do stimulate a series of income generation activities of the poor. Bankole and Gbadebo (2006) argue that the externality of other development projects or interventions in other sectors on the poor was not generally considered and, as such, they were designed on a stand-alone basis, unintegrated with the sectoral development programmes on a policy basis.
Tourism is thus an economic driver. It provides money to fuel the economy and at the same time supports and sustains the values and lifestyle of a country residents and businesspeople (Kotler, Bowen and Makens, 1999). This is vitally important as Nigeria, like Macedonia, strives to adjust to new economic realities and its population seeks jobs and income from new sources. Visitors come to tour countries, they spend money, and they leave. As the visitors spend their money, they facilitate the opportunity for our countries to put in place the infrastructure, opportunities, and services that make the country lifestyle so attractive to the local population. The proceeds of visitor spending provide revenue and create opportunities for existing and new businesses. This process generates new employment, which is essential to accommodate the growing population. The tourism employees and tourism businesses spend money in the community. Lewis and Chambers (2007) assert that business investments that are not front-line tourism businesses demonstrate that spending by employees of the tourism industry and by tourism businesses is equally as important to a country as spending by visitors. This is a crucial message. Population growth from new residents retiring in a country produces new demands on the community. Without new and sustainable cash flow, the population can easily outgrow its capacity. Municipal services may decline and the burden of supporting failing infrastructure would fall on an aging population who moved to the community with the expectation of high standards of services. Even without population growth, new demands are placed on the community (Mihalic, 2004). It is therefore essential that our countries ’s residential and business populations celebrate the contribution of tourism to its lifestyle and seek opportunities to expand the positive economic and social benefits brought by tourism. Given the extraordinary population growth in Nigeria, this becomes a crucial issue.
Tourism is a fiber of Nigeria that is woven throughout the lifestyle and economy of the community and its population. It contributes to incubating other business sectors that are targeted for growth. For example, new technology businesses are traditionally started in locations that meet the lifestyle interests of their owners (Bazini, 2008). The economy of Nigeria is conducive to the growth of small technology businesses for this very reason. However, the assets that make tourism successful, and the resulting flourish of tourism businesses, significantly contribute to making that lifestyle a reality. Further, a vibrant tourism industry contributes to employment statistics and cash flows that encourage people considering a location for their new business (www.albaniaantourism.com).
The tourism industry is less pro poor despite the lack of straight majors toward multiplier effects to locals (Mutayoba and Mbwete, 2013). Despite the significant contribution of tourism to the economic growth, there are still a significant number of local communities live below the basic needs poverty line. 44 percent of the population lives below the poverty line (OCGS, 2013). Local people have also found it difficult to link up with the tourist industry as suppliers of goods and services as well as the source of labor. Apart from employment for people who work in restaurants, curio/souvenir shops and tour companies little economic benefits have been recognized by people owning businesses involved in tourism, Jamieson et.al, (2004) stated that in order to make a sound case for the benefits of tourism to the poor and poor communities there is a need to move beyond the language of multipliers and trickle down’ and to identify specific benefits to poor individuals and communities. Anwar (2012) emphasized that poverty reduction requires strategies on a variety of complimentary front and scale, but a prerequisite of significant progress is pro-poor growth which benefits the poor. Tourism can be one source of such growth. To meet the objective of poverty reduction through tourism the UNWTO (2002) launched the project called ST-EP (Sustainable tourism- eliminating poverty) seek to refocus and intensify sustainable tourism-social, economic and ecological to make it a primary tool for eliminating poverty in the world’s poor communities.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Though tourism is important sector to any nation, the problems associated with tourism are quite enormous. For example Ile-Ife in Osun state, being one of the most respected town in the Yoruba land, despite the fact that the town has attracted millions of people to the area for business, leisure and other purposes. There are less infrastructural facilities such as good road network and parking space, electricity, industry or even companies to meet the demand of the tourist or reduce the level of poverty in the town. The slogan of poverty alleviation has been given special attention by international organ like United Nation Organization. Lima et al. (2011) reported that poverty eradication is the first of the United Nations established the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), with sustainable tourism being recognized as a major development activity for poverty alleviation but with the fact that rural areas and towns in different state attracts tourist yearly, the people still battle with poverty every day, about 60% of the total population in Ile-Ife Osun state lives in poverty therefore this research intends to examine the role of tourism activities towards poverty alleviation program in rural arears using Ile-Ife Osun state as a case study.
1.3 Objective of the Study
The main objective of this study is to examine the roles of tourism activities towards poverty alleviation program in rural arears, specifically the study intends to:
1. Find out the effect of tourism on the development of Ile-Ife Osun state
2. Find out the impact of tourism in reducing poverty in rural areas in Nigeria
3. Examine the challenges facing tourism development initiatives in poverty alleviation in rural areas
4. Proffer solution to the challenges facing tourism development initiatives in poverty alleviation
1.4 Research Question
1. What is the effect of tourism on the development of Ile-Ife Osun state?
2. Is there any impact of tourism in reducing poverty in rural areas in Nigeria?
3. Are there challenges facing tourism development initiatives in poverty alleviation in rural areas?
4. What is the solution to the challenges facing tourism development initiatives in poverty alleviation?
1.5 Research Hypothesis
Ho: there is no impact of tourism in reducing poverty in rural areas in Nigeria
Hi: there is no impact of tourism in reducing poverty in rural areas in Nigeria
1.6 Significance of the Study
The study aims to provide a clear identification of the interrelationships between tourism and poverty alleviation, thus the results will help to the government and policy makers to realize tourism activities towards poverty alleviation and the challenges facing the efforts of achieving the goals of poverty alleviation through tourism development initiatives.
The study is also significant to the government and the tourism stakeholders due to its attempt to identify and suggest ways in which tourism will contribute to poverty alleviation. The result of this study will be a guide to take immediate measures to solve some challenges facing the efforts of poverty alleviation via tourism so as to reach the target of the millennium goals. The study attempts to raise the voices of the rural poor who have not yet enjoyed the full benefits of tourism, despite that most of the tourist attractions being situated within their local areas. Finally, the study will serve as an important reference for further research (study) and academic institutions in this dynamic area of the tourism industry.
1.7 Scope of the Study
This research work will focus mainly on the role of tourism on poverty alleviation in Nigeria, the benefit of tourism to the development of rural areas in Nigeria. The research work will cover people of Ile-Ife Osun state.
1.8 Delimitation of the Study
Finance for the general research work will be a challenge during the course of study. Correspondents also might not be able to complete or willing to submit the questionnaires given to them.
However, it is believed that these constraints will be worked on by making the best use of the available materials and spending more than the necessary time in the research work. Therefore, it is strongly believed that despite these constraint, its effect on this research report will be minimal, thus, making the objective and significance of the study achievable.
1.9 Definition of Terms