Sustainable tourism development in Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Nigeria: the role of indigenous carnivals

Abstract

This study investigated the role of indigenous carnivals in sustainable tourism development in the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Nigeria. Two null hypotheses were formulated to guide and direct the study. Literature was reviewed based on the sub-variables of the study. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised of all adult male and female from 18 years and above in the study area. A sample size of four hundred and thirty eight (438) respondents was drawn from the population of eight thousand three hundred and eighty (8,380) using the stratified and purposive sampling techniques respectively. A four point modified Likert scale questionnaire title: Sustainable tourism development in the southern senatorial district of Cross River State, Nigeria: the role of indigenous carnivals” (STDSSDCRSNRIC) was the main instrument used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts in the department of test and measurement and evaluation in the University of Calabar. The instrument was personally administered by the researcher with the help of three trained research assistants in the areas of the study. The data obtained were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) statistics. The result of the analysis revealed that indigenous/traditional street dances as well Calabar carnival significantly relate with sustainable tourism development in the study area. Based on the findings, the study recommended among other that, the government should do everything humanly possible to encourage the development of indigenous carnivals in the study area so as to promote and sustained tourism in development in the state. More so, the youth should be sensitized on the relevance of indigenous carnivals in sustainable tourism development in the state.

Keywords: Tourism, indigenous carnivals, sustainable tourism development