ASSESSING THE CULTURAL IMPACT OF POTENTIAL TOURISM RESOURCES IN AKOKO-EDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

ABSTRACT
Tourism is one of the most important components of the global economy. It generates billions of dollars in revenues and millions of jobs worldwide. It is considered by many communities, especially in emerging countries the only tool for development, and the only chance for increasing the quality of life. Thus the tourism industry has stretched from seaside to mountain resorts and from small villages to big metropolises. But at the same time, tourism started to show its uglier side. Both the actions of investors and of tourists are having negative impacts on the socio-cultural values and environmental assets of host communities all over the world. In the present paper we are trying to observe the impacts of tourism on society from three perspectives: economic, social and cultural, and environmental. From the economic perspective, tourism generates wealth and jobs, but the wealth leaks from the community and the jobs are mainly lowincome. From the socio-cultural perspective, tourism brings together people from different backgrounds, cultures and traditions and promotes peace. But at the same time, due to globalization, many communities have lost their cultural identity and gave way to a Disneyfication of their village or town. Last but not least, tourism helped create national parks and protected areas, where unique examples of flora and fauna can be found. But tourists have been proven to be a problem, because of the pollution they generate. Tourist entrepreneurs can also be blamed for a total disrespect to local traditions and the environment. The main problem from these negative impacts is that the local community is the only side that picks up the check for all the damages on the culture, tradition and, most importantly on the environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Tourism is a rapidly growing phenomenon and has become one of the largest industries in the world. The impact of tourism varies extremely. On one hand, it plays an important and certainly positive role in the socioeconomic and political development in destination countries by, for instance, offering new employment opportunities. Also, in certain instances, it may contribute to a broader cultural and understanding by creating awareness, respecting the diversity of cultures and ways of life. On the other hand, it is a tool to create jobs (Idanre Ecotourism Masterplan). Tourism has been a major driver of socio-economic development in Western society; it is an alternative strategy for sustainability and diversification of economy for important policy of a good government.

There are many western nations such as U.S.A, United Kingdom, Canada that have utilized the benefit of tourism to sustain their economy. However, over the years, tourism sector has been experiencing disdain in Nigeria. The Nigeria economy solely relies on crude oil with total neglect of other sectors such as tourism and agriculture which are the mainstay of a good economy. Over– concentration on oil sector has a great implication for the survival of Nigerian economy. The nonchalant attitude of government towards the development of the tourism sector has been major challenge facing the sector in Nigeria. Mass tourism in and from industrialized countries is a product of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Since then a number of interrelated developments in the world economy, such as overall economic growth and various other socio-economic changes, government policies, technological revolution, changes in production processes and new management practices have converted part of the industry from mass tourism to so-called “new tourism”.

The latter connotes the idea of responsible, green, soft, alternative and sustainable tourism, and basically refers to the diversification of the tourism industry and its development in targeted, niche markets. Competition in the new tourism is increasingly based on diversification, market segmentation and diagonal integration (BGL Research and Intelligence). In recent times, tourism is one of the largest industries that has contributed to the socio-economic growth of many countries especially countries where tourism is the mainstay of her economy, World Tourism Organization (WTO, 1998; cited in Eja et al., 2012). Despite the fact that that industry is a vehicle for promoting cultural exchange that enhances international understanding and goodwill among the diverse peoples of the world, it is also a catalyst for enhancing many country destination employment opportunities, foreign exchange and infrastructural facilities (Bankole, 2002).

The development of tourism as a critical sector of the economy has gradually assumed a centre stage in the economic agenda of most nations of the world. In the past few decades, international attention on tourism as a critical sector of the economy has greatly increased. This is in view of its capacity to quickly stimulate income growth, generate foreign exchange and contribute to domestic earnings of government through fees and taxes (Vanguard Newspaper, June 24, 2011). The interest in tourism by the Nigeria’s government started way back in the 1960s with the Obasanjo’s regime in 1976 establishing the Nigeria Tourism Board (NTB) now Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) via Decree No. 54 of 1976 reviewed to Decree No. 86 of 1991 and giving it a ‘preferred sector’ status respectively. Master Plan on tourism development in Nigeria started in 1982 with a tourism development policy first rolled out in 1990. To further consolidate the quest for quality service delivery in the tourism industry, the government created the Federal Ministry of Tourism and Culture to actualize the dream of catching up with the global train in tourism development (Bankole, 2002).

Tourism has become a major source of economic diversification for many countries, underpinning the service sector and forging effective backward and forward linkages with the rest of the economy, allowing new employment and income earning opportunities. Although the developed countries account for a higher proportion of global tourism, many developing countries are beginning to take advantage of the huge opportunities offered by tourism. However, only developing countries with effective natural and man-made tourism supporting and enhancing infrastructure have been able to develop their tourism sector and seize the attendant advantages.

The need for economic diversification in most developing countries is overwhelming 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. Tourism is one concept that may not really invoke the desired passion and attraction among Nigerians. The reason for this could be the high level of poverty prevalent in a country where the people live from hand to mouth and have little left for other secondary activities like tourism. However, tourism is not an issue that is limited to Nigeria but is a language of the international community where people save money in order to visit places of attractions to fulfill their dreams (Gozel, 2011).

The important roles of the tourism sector as the main instrument in socio-economic development of any nation cannot be overemphasized. Although some of the tourist centres in Nigeria are not well developed to promote socio-economic development, the only way to realize the important roles of tourism is through a well developed, packaged and promoted tourist attraction (Gozel, 2011). The Nigerian Government is increasingly recognizing the need to develop this industry especially now that the country is trying to diversify her economy. The present government has called for the promotion and exploitation of other sectors that could contribute to economic development and tourism has been recognized as a high profile among them. Apart from petroleum and agriculture, tourism is another sector that could help in turning the Nigerian economy around (Reisinger, 2009). Nigeria is a country richly endowed with a wide range of natural and cultural resources relative to other nations in Africa and on global level most of which are largely untapped. These resources fall into protected ecosystems (game reserves and recreational parks), protected landscapes or natural sceneries, cultural sites, coastline, traditional festivals and historic relics and monuments (Reisinger, 2009).