Career Prospects of Youths and Tourism Participation in Selected Host Communities in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined career prospects of youths and tourism participation in selected host communities in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Three communities (Ikogosi- Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti, and Ipole-Iloro -Ekiti) were purposively selected for the study considering their possession of idyllic tourist resources of national and international reputes, Ikogosi warm-spring, Olosunta festival, and Arinta waterfalls respectively. The population for the study comprised the inhabitants of the three communities. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select 120 youths from each community summing to 360 respondents. Data were collected using interview guided questions. The mean age of the respondents was 19.3 years. The results showed that high percentage (70.8%) of the respondents falls between 16 and 25 years. A high percentage (75.6%) of the respondents had no exposure (never lived elsewhere). Majority (66.7%) earned their living (self upkeep) from tourism business in the locality. The findings revealed that there was a significant relationship between career prospects of youths and age (χ²=32.168; p<0.05), level of education (χ²=31.422; p<0.05), income (χ²=36.112; p<0.05), and exposure (χ²=17.287; p<0.05). The findings further revealed that positive and significant relationship existed between career support factors and Social Facilities (r = 0.1913), Entrepreneurship Education (r = 0.2812), Membership of Cooperatives (r = 0.3421), and Apprenticeship (r = 0.2133). Conversely, there existed negative but significant correlation between Loans and Credit (r = -0.1789), Formal Education (r = -0.2647), and Information/Awareness (r = -0.1592). Based on the findings, the study recommends that youth empowerment programme should include entrepreneurial training and there is the need for government to promote products and services offered by youths in the tourism host communities for expansion and extension to other places for career development and sustainable livelihood.

Key Words: Career prospect, Youths, Host community, Tourism Development.