BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
According to Long (2012), tourism is an efficient approach to reinvigorate the economy of any place and is widely recognized as one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The constant and rapid rise of tourism is not independent of the world economy's sustained economic growth, which lasted from the mid-1990s to 2007. This expansion has permitted greater worldwide disposable income, leisure demand, and this, along with global economic restructures in reaction to globalization, has secured global tourism sector rivalry and significant cost reductions. As a result, tourism has emerged as a major source of economic growth, employment, revenue, and foreign money for many nations, with developing countries viewing tourism as a key source of development and growth for their economies (Haller, 2012). While tourist expansion is a result of global economic growth, it is also true that tourism has made a significant contribution to world economic growth. Indeed, according to Ozgen (2013), the tourist sector has grown to be a significant part of the world economy and has advanced to a high level of development. In this vein, Nigeria is looking to tourism as a potential alternative source of income (Uduma-Olugu and Onukwube, 2012), and it is believed, as stated by Ajao (2012), that if the tourism sector in Nigeria is properly developed, tourism will serve as a source of employment in addition to agriculture.
Given the World Tourism Organization's (WTO) definition of tourism as "an activity involving the travel of humans to areas beyond their customary surroundings for pleasure no more than once," it's easy to see how such activities could assist host and local economies and communities. This is especially true since that tourism has evolved from a privileged few's pursuit to the pleasure of the majority (Murphy, 1985). In terms of employment, money, and improved quality of life, tourism provides a variety of advantages to individual tourists, tourism organizations, and local economies and communities (Besculides et al, 2002; Oh, 2005). Tourism has become a major alternative type of commodity export and a considerable source of foreign cash for several major tourist destinations, allowing internal and external trade balances to be adjusted.
Without adequate planning and integration with local values and environment, tourism growth can cause socio-cultural, environmental, and economic harm (Long, 2012). Thus, there is little question that tourism can contribute effectively to growing Nigeria's economic potential, but the tourist sector faces challenges in doing so.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
For many nations, tourism has become a key source of economic diversification, strengthening the service sector and building effective backward and forward links with the rest of the economy, providing for new job and income opportunities. Adeola and his colleagues (2016). Despite the fact that developed nations account for a larger share of global tourism, many developing countries are beginning to reap the benefits of tourism (Adeola et al, 2016). Only developing nations with adequate natural and man-made tourism supporting and boosting infrastructure have been able to grow their tourist sectors and reap the benefits that come with it. Because of their defining mono-cultural economic characteristics, where only one or two commodities dominate exports and provide the bulk of foreign exchange from which these countries could reconcile their internal and external balances, the need for economic diversification in most developing countries is overwhelming (Ali et al, 2015). Nigeria is one such country that is looking to diversify its economy away from crude oil production in order to increase jobs and revenue. Nigeria has enormous tourist potential, particularly considering its natural and diverse landscapes, but it lacks sufficient infrastructure to support and enhance tourism (Bulent, 2015). While tourism generates a lot of jobs and money, its influence on the biophysical environment is well known, which is why sustainable tourism is so important. Indeed, the majority of Nigeria's natural landscapes are eco-sensitive places, and exploring them as tourism destinations must be done in a sustainable manner in order to increase the landscapes' carrying capacity or regeneration potential.
The goal of this research is to investigate the challenges that the tourist industry has in growing Nigeria's economic potential.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1. To examine whether there are problems facing the tourism sector.
2. To find out the various problems facing the tourism sector.
3. To find out if the problems facing the tourism sector is affecting economic opportunities in Nigeria.
4. To proffer solutions to the problems facing the tourism sector in expanding economic opportunities in Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION
1. Are there problems facing the tourism sector?
2. What are the problems facing the tourism sector?
3. Are the problems facing the tourism sector affecting economic opportunities in Nigeria?
4. How can the problems facing the tourism sector be managed?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The benefits of this work cannot be overemphasized. This is because it will benefit the government as it would lead to solutions in tackling problems facing the tourism sector in economic opportunities and this will need to many opportunities which will generate employment or improve foreign exchange for government.
Also, it will benefit the tourism sector as it will show different ways of tackling the problems faced by the industry therefore paving way for more profit for investors.
Also, it will benefit the masses as it will create more jobs for those who are looking for work.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study is centered on the problems facing the tourism sector in expanding economic opportunities in Nigeria. The scope is limited to Oakland Entertainment Park. Enugu.
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The limitations of this study include;
1. Time constraint: The availability of time for carrying out this research work was limited. The short duration of time is not enough for a study of this kind.
2.Attitude of the respondents was another major challenge. Some refused to collect the questionnaires while others did not answer some of the questions. Many of them have to be convinced that the questionnaire will be used for purely academic purpose before they cooperate.
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