Cultural Tourism and Community Development; a Case Study of Umuagbom Community in Imo State
Chapter One
Aim and Objectives of the Study
This study aims to investigate the significance of cultural tourism to community development.
The specific objectives are to:
- Examine the relationship between the New Yam Festival and the infrastructure
- Examine the relationship between the New Yam Festival and educational advancement
- Examine the relationship between the new yam festival and social amenities
- Examine the relationship between age grade and infrastructure
- Examine the relationship between age grade and education advancement
- Examine the relationship between age grade and social amenities
Chapter two
Literature Review
Introduction
In this chapter, the researcher shall be looking more on the review for the study cultural tourism and community development a case study of Umuagbom Community in Imo State. This chapter will be arranging in the following format concept of cultural tourism, dimension of cultural tourism, community development and measures of community development.
The Concept of Cultural Tourism
The highest purpose of tourism is to become better acquainted with people in other places and countries, because this furthers the understanding and appreciation that builds a better world for all (Charles Goeldner & Brent Ritchie, 2006). International travel also involves the exchange of knowledge and ideas, another worthy objective. Travel raises levels of human experience, recognition and achievements in many areas of learning, research and artistic activity.
While culture is only one factor that determines the overall attractiveness of a tourism region (figure 1.4, stage 1), it is a very rich and diverse one. The elements of a society’s culture are a complex reflection of the way its people live, work and play (Figure 1.4, stage 2).
A short and useful delineation of the concept of culture according to Melville (1974) is: “culture is the man-made part of the environment”. Implicit here is the recognition that man’s life is lived in a natural habitat and a social ‘environment’. It also implies that culture is more than a biological phenomenon. Culture includes all the elements in man’s mature endowment that he has acquired from his group by conscious learning or by a conditioning process-techniques of various kinds, social and other institutions, beliefs, and patterned modes of conduct. Culture, in short can be contrasted with the raw materials, outer and inner, from which it derives. The concept of culture used as a tool in the study of man differs from the popular meaning of the term “cultured”, so that the application of the concept “culture” to a digging stick or a cooking recipe necessitates some readjustment in the thinking. The popular concept of culture comes within the terms of what may be called a boarding-school definition, and is the equivalent of “refinement”,. Such a definition implies the ability of a person who has “culture” to manipulate certain aspects of civilization that are principally the possession of those persons who have the leisure to learn them. For a scientist, however a “cultured person” in the popular sense, commands but a specialized fragment of culture. Cultural relativism is in essence an approach to the question of the nature and role of values in culture. The principle of cultural relativism, briefly stated, is as follows. Judgements are based on experience, and experience is interpreted by each individual in terms of his own enculturation. The primary mechanism that directs the evaluation of culture is ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism is the point of view that one’s own way of life is to be preferred to all others. The ethnocentrism of non literate peoples is best illustrated in their myths, folktales, proverbs and linguistic habits. “Cultures are sometimes evaluated by the use of the designations “civilized” and “primitive” Melville(1974). These terms have a deceptive simplicity, and attempts to document the differences implied in them have proved to be of unexpected difficulty.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
The research methodology covers the research design, the population of the study, sample size determination, sample selection techniques, research instruments of the study and administration method of data procedure & analysis.
Research Design
The researcher adopted the survey methods. The survey method was used to generate data for quantitative analysis. Since, the study has to do with the assessment, evaluation, survey method is the most appropriate method that could be used to investigate their views (Wimmer and Dominick, 2011,p.1185; Chukwuemeka, 2002,p.32; and Ohaja, 2003,p.11).
Population of the Study
The population of the study every adult in imo state of Nigerian from Umuagbom community as the selected area. And the projection of adults in this area are 43,485. Therefore, 43,485 stands as the population size for this study.
CHAPTER FOUR
Data Analysis, Finding and Discussion
Data Analysis
This chapter deals with the analysis of data obtained in the research and investigation the research hypothesis earlier discussed in chapter one is tested on the basis of the data to ensure accurate statistical result questionnaires were administrated.
Chapter Five
Summary recommendation and Conclusion
Introduction
In this chapter brief summary of the findings from the theoretical and empirical investigations is presented basically on cultural tourism and community development a case study of Umuagbom community in Imo State. Based on these findings, conclusion and recommendations are made for future improvement.
Discussion of findings
The study is all about whether cultural tourism can buy any means be a source of community development basically and to analyze the relationship among them.
From the result of the analysis carried out, the search turns positive to the development of the community.
- Umuagbom community have been able to make positive advancement in regard to education through cultural tourism.
- The community still hold and maintain their cultural heritage even till this very point (21st century).
- It was discovered that through cultural tourism the community were able to unity with some of the other community as they share thing in common.
- Also, from the research work, it was noticed that many source of social amenities came in as a result of cultural tourism, which also through cultural tourism job opportunity have been create among the citizens of the community and beyond.
- Age grade is a heritage of the community but from the study do not serve as a source of Umuagbom community development.
Conclusion
As indicated earlier, both quantitative and qualitative data were utilised to prosecute this study from where the five cardinal findings above were made. Based on the findings, the researcher concludes that though cultural tourism in Umuagbom community serve as a means of community development, the level of this development is just to a low level extent. The implication of this is that a sustainable and reliable source of cultural tourism should be upheld and practice among the community to effectively increase the development of the community more.
Recommendation
Based on the findings of this study, the researcher made the following recommendations
The New yam festivals should be made more attractive to the people and togetherness of the community can help achieve this.
The community should promote their cultural heritage either through the media or otherwise.
Further studies in this area should include more benefit of cultural norm to the host community and as well increase the scope beyond.
Reference
- Angulu Owage O. (1995): People and Culture Interrelations. Mansu Press Int. 25, Ebute-metta Lagos.
- Adekola (1997): The fundamentals of community development. University of Port Harcourt
- Aremu, D.A. (2001): Cultural and Eco-tourism Development, Hope Publications, Oyo.
- Ayodele, I.A. (1998): The place of Tourism in National Development, Paper presented at the inaugural seminar on management of Hotel, Tourism and the family support programme in the 21st Century Nigeria.
- Bello,O.Y. (2005): Nigeria Tourism Resources and its potentiality for sustainable Economic Development. Paper presented at the 1st National Conference on Science, Technology and Environment studies.
- Burkat, A.J and Medliks (1981): Tourism past, present and future. Heinemann, London.
