Tourism and Socio Economic Development in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State Nigeria

Abstract

The paper examined the impact of tourism on the socio-economic development of Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Despite the huge potential of tourism in the study area, its contribution to the transformation is not encouraging. A qualitative study, it adopted the Malthusian theory of economic development as the theoretical framework for analysis. Amongst others, the paper discovered that the tourism industry as it has done in other climes can generate incomes for households through engagement in various economic activities, generate of revenue for the government, create of employment for a coterie of persons as well as the capacity for rural development. However, this depends on the development of tourism. The challenges bedevilling tourism as a tool for socio-economic transformation in the study area included government negligence of the industry as a revenue and other multiplier effects spinner, as the government of Nigeria and the state of Akwa Ibom concentrate so much on the petroleum sector for revenue; lack of organisation on the part of government authorities in revenue collection in the lone tourist site available in the local government area; and a lack of adequate strategy by government agencies at the development of tourism. It has been recommended that the necessary government authorities put in necessary measures for the development and marketing of the tourism potentials of the local government area; efforts should also be directed at eco-tourism as well as creating an enabling environment for tourism to thrive unfettered.