The need to encourage sustainable tourism development in Kaduna Metropolis

CHAPTER ONE Introduction 1.1 Background of the Study Sustainable tourism is a concept that covers the complete tourism experience, including concern for economic, social and environmental issues as well as attention to improving tourists' experiences and addressing the needs of host communities. UNWHO, 2020. Sustainable tourism should embrace concerns for environmental protection, social equity, and the quality of life, cultural diversity, and a dynamic, viable economy delivering jobs and prosperity for all. Zeng, (2020). Sustainable tourism plays significant roles in economic transformation of many nations such as Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Australia, United States of America, Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Aruba, and South Korea (Hall and Jenkins, 2015; Sharpley, 2002; Vanegas and Croes, 2003; Oh, 2005; Herb, 2009). This is because it contributes towards alleviating the major political, social and economic problems that characterize the rural areas. Thus, sustainable tourism has been discovered to be a very important instrument to poverty alleviation, attainment of the millennium development goals (MDGs) and sustainable development (Olorunfemi and Raheem, 2008). There is now broad consensus that tourism should be sustainable. Han, (2021) ascertained the fact that all forms of tourism have the potential to be sustainable if planned, developed and managed properly. Tourist developments organizations are promoting sustainable tourism practices in order to mitigate negative effects caused by the growing impact of tourism, for example its environmental impacts. Beginning in the 20th century especially after World War II, sustainable tourism has become an important platform not only for socio-cultural integration, distraction from work and recreation for pleasure seekers but also a vital service sector with the capacity for employment, revenue generation and, among many other things, image laundering. Harnessed particularly by “middle classes in America and in certain European countries” (Bhatia 2006:11). Sustainable tourism establishes a suitable balance between the environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, plays an important role in conserving biodiversity. It attempts to minimize its impact on the environment and local culture so that it will be available for future generations, while contributing to generate income, employment, and the conservation of local ecosystems. By doing so, sustainable tourism maximizes the positive contribution of tourism to biodiversity conservation and thus to poverty reduction and the achievement of common goals towards sustainable development. Sustainable tourism provides crucial economic incentives for habitat protection. Revenues from visitor spending are often channelled back into nature conservation or capacity building programmes for local communities to manage protected areas. Furthermore, tourism can be a key vehicle in raising awareness and fostering positive behaviour change for biodiversity conservation among the millions of people travelling the globe every year. Sustainable tourism is an industry committed to making a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate future employment for local people. The positive of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development is a positive experience for local people; tourism companies; and tourists themselves, (Olajide and Nwogu, 2012). The United Nations World Tourism Organisation defines sustainable tourism as tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future. Rather than being a type of product, it is an ethos that underpins all tourism activities. As such, it is integral to all aspects of tourism development and management rather than being an add-on component. The objective of sustainable tourism is to retain the economic and social advantages of tourism development while reducing or mitigating any undesirable impacts on the natural, historic, cultural or social environment. This is achieved by balancing the needs of tourists with those of the destination UNWHO, 2020. Sustainable Tourism refers to a level of tourism activity that can be maintained over the long term because it results in a net benefit for the social, economic, natural and cultural environments of the area in which it takes place. Tourism that is economically, socioculturally and environmentally sustainable. With sustainable tourism, sociocultural and environmental impacts are neither permanent nor irreversible. Keying into this emergent sector with untold economic potentials, many African countries have began to look inwards for some unique physical, social and cultural phenomenon with potentials to guarantee their place in the sustainable tourism industry. Given that the core of tourism is to attract inflow – of persons, of ideas and of potentials – into a particular destination, more African countries, as Fatai (2011:4) posits “are getting awareness about the need to develop sustainable tourism for socio-economic advantages”. It is, however, no doubt that the development of sustainable tourism is by no means an easy nut to crack. This is because it entails recognizing gaps within the framework of ‘sustainable’ tourism and providing some compelling platforms worthy of drawing the attention of people – both foreign and local. In the context of tourism, attraction must be proportional to satisfaction. This means that drawing attention to a site, a phenomenon or a people is not enough until it is able to create a lasting impression on them. It is the commoditization of this impression that guarantees constant flow of income to host localities. It is important for countries to understand the benefits of investing in the tourist sector. First, it promotes growth-oriented innovations. Atuk (2014:1), postulates that sustainable tourism demands “the positive transformation of tourism potentials to tourism products”. It, in this regard, entails the transmutation of potentials from their latent stages into tangible and usable ‘products’ for economic gains. These potentials, according to Okechuku (2010) “fall into protected ecosystems (game reserves and recreational parks), protected landscapes or natural sceneries, cultural sites, coastline, traditional festival and historic relics and monuments. In addition to the above submission, Okoli (2001), sees sustainable tourism development as the provision of infrastructure and superstructures. These infrastructures, he adds, include roads, water supply, communication system etc. The superstructures, according to him, include hotels, motels, guesthouses etc. If harnessed, these structures have the capacity of pulling people towards sites where they are evidently present to relish the comfort they embody. According to Olapade (2012) not all destinations are fascinating; however, most are able to attract visits due to genuine stories, infrastructure, events and beautifications the custodians invented and invested‟ and indirectly creates an enabling environment that attracts local and foreign investors, which in the long run are able to create avenue for employment, boost international patronage as well as generate huge revenue. Also noting the importance of sustainable tourism in economic transformation, Othman and Karlberg (2007) said that apart from the physical inflow of tourist foreign currency, it also provides direct ancillary industries for souvenirs, handicraft, food and garment manufacturing. According to them, these industries are labour intensive and afford huge opportunities for employment creation. Although tourism does not only bring economic gains and should not be judged as such, thus Budeanu (2007) observed that it has wider implications encompassing not only economic benefits but also social and cultural benefits and brings about infrastructural improvement and regional growth. That is not all. Sustainable tourism creates a cultural exchange between tourists and local citizens. Exhibitions, conferences, and events usually attract foreigners. Organizing authorities usually gain profits from registration fees, gift sales, exhibition spaces, and sales of media copyright. Furthermore, foreign tourists bring diversity and cultural enrichment to the hosting country. Sustainable tourism is also a potential source of foreign direct investment and a source of foreign exchange earnings. It is a catalyst for development and rapid urbanization, not to mention its impact on environmental conservation. Despite the potentials of sustainable tourism as a development tool, its impact largely remains terra incognita among tourism academics and organizations. Regrettably, most of Kaduna’s key tourist sites are located in rural areas typically characterized by lack of basic infrastructure such as bad road network, potable water supply, dilapidated healthcare centres, and epileptic power supply. For a state to benefit from tourism, governments should play active roles in developing tourist sites by providing adequate facilities and cutting-edge infrastructure. They also need to support the manufacturing of goods as tourists would need to eat, drink and relax while in the state. The government should make the best use of the media for public awareness and high-quality publicity campaigns. Suffice it to say that travel and tourism are built on peace and comfort. People go on vacation to escape from hectic lifestyles. Hence, this project will examine the need to encourage sustainable tourism development in Kaduna Metropolis. 1.2 Statement of the Problem Economically, sustainable tourism has been encouraged and supported by international organizations to facilitate growth around the world. However, this myopic view of tourism’s economic impact has generated a flood of literature about the side effects of this impact. In spite of the various sustainable tourism resources available in Kaduna state, there is still the lack of infrastructure and investments in the tourism sector and Kaduna metropolis so far has recorded little or no revenue from tourism. Furthermore, many of the destinations lack the ambience found in developed tourist destinations. Sustainable tourism has several benefits and Kaduna state and their environs have so much to gain from it. 1.3 Objectives of the Study The objectives of this project will be to 1. To examining the need for adequate facilities and amenities for sustainable tourism 2. To determining the strategies for encouraging sustainable tourism development 3. To know the basic infrastructures require for sustainable tourism development in Kaduna metropolis 4. Safety and security issues around the destination in Kaduna metropolis 1.4 Significance of the Study The significance of this study is to help sensitize tourism professionals as well as policy makers in the field to assess sustainable tourism as a tool for development in the state, so that challenges can be identified and recommendations may be made towards more effective sustainable tourism development. Also, Private sectors, individual, government will also benefit as it will serve as relevant document which will give them more insight on sustainable tourism development and its economic benefits. This research work contributes to knowledge which will be of benefit to students and researchers in the field of tourism as well as guide in order to carryout research related to the topic. 1.5 Scope of the Study Kaduna state is richly endowed with a wide range of natural and cultural resources most of which are largely untapped. Recent reports indicated an increasing market in the tourism industry. The availability of these potentials has made the development of tourism industry in Kaduna state to undergo a gradual evolution, which each phase reflecting its growing importance in the economy of the state. The scope of the study is on the need to encourage sustainable tourism development in Kaduna Metropolis. The study covers some selected areas in Kaduna Metropolis. 1.6 Research Questions The following are research questions for this study 1. What are the need for adequate facilities and amenities for sustainable tourism 2. What are the strategies needed for encouraging sustainable tourist 3. What are the basic infrastructures require for sustainable tourism development in Kaduna metropolis 5. What are the Safety and security issues around the destination in Kaduna metropolis