A Review on Cultural Festivals and Cultural Tourism Development in Rural Areas of Nigeria
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN)
Abstract
Cultural tourism is one of the definite ways to open up rural areas. Its development can lead to provision of infrastructural facilities such as transportation systems, electricity, communication networks, pipe-borne water, sewage, hospital and cultural institutions among others. Cultural festival plays significant role in sustainable cultural and rural tourism development. This paper therefore, argues on resuscitation of lost cultural values in terms of cultural festivals as a strategy to rural development. This is with a view to understanding how the state of cultural and rural tourism industry can be improved upon in the rural areas of Nigeria. The paper reviews literature on cultural tourism and festivals; examines reasons for neglect/abandonment of cultural festivals in some rural areas; assesses the impacts of cultural festivals on the residents, tourists and host communities; identifies the challenges of cultural festivals and highlights the way forward. The paper concludes by emphasizing on the need to resuscitate neglected/abandoned cultural festivals in some rural areas of Nigeria as this will bring back the lost cultural values. Furthermore, it will enhance sustainable economic development for both the residents and host communities and the country at large. The paper therefore tasks planners, policy makers and environmental development agencies in each state to come up with policies and programs to identify and promote cultural festivals as cultural tourism product.
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Keywords
Cultural festivals, cultural tourism development, rural areas