Abstract
Ebonyi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism was established in June 2000 to serve as a catalyst for the development of diverse cultural and tourism resources in the state. However, it is worrisome that eighteen years after, not much headway has been made in the development of tourism resources. Some of the implications are that tourism resources have not been tapped for state and rural development, and many of the resources are under threat due to lack of management. Thus, the paper attempted to dissect the obstacles which preclude Ebonyi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism from discharging its cardinal function of tourism development. The key objective of the study was to ascertain the challenges that confront Ebonyi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The research adopted the qualitative posture to inquiry, and in-depth interview as primary data gathering technique. Findings revealed that key challenges of the ministry are: lack of appropriate personnel, poor funding, flippant attitude of government towards tourism development, and absence of tourism committee at the thirteen local government areas of the state. It is hoped that the paper will contribute meaningfully towards repositioning the ministry for greater productivity. Keywords : Tourism Development, Challenges, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ebonyi State DOI : 10.7176/JTHS/41-06 Publication date :May 31 st 2019
Highlights
Ebonyi State is endowed with rich array of natural and cultural tourism resources such as Amanchor cave, golden sand beaches of Ozizza, Ndibe and Unwana; Ishiagu earthen pottery, Ngene-Ukwuenu - a centre for religious and cultural tourism in Uburu, Ntezi basket weaving, Abakaliki Greater Rice Husk, Slave Market Route at Ezza, Ukpa Rock Shelter, Uburu and Okposi salt lakes, etc
As a result of the rich tourism resources in the state, Ebonyi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism was created in June 2000 to provide the impetus for rapid development of tourism resources
Finance, administration and public relations departments are managed by head of departments (HODs), while the department of culture and archives is led by a director
Summary
Ebonyi State is endowed with rich array of natural and cultural tourism resources such as Amanchor cave, golden sand beaches of Ozizza, Ndibe and Unwana; Ishiagu earthen pottery, Ngene-Ukwuenu - a centre for religious and cultural tourism in Uburu, Ntezi basket weaving, Abakaliki Greater Rice Husk, Slave Market Route at Ezza, Ukpa Rock Shelter, Uburu and Okposi salt lakes, etc. The paper endeavored to examine the challenges which preclude Ebonyi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism from accomplishing its fundamental function of developing tourism resources. The key objective of the study was to ascertain the challenges that confront Ebonyi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism in relation to tourism development. A subordinate objective was to examine the collaboration between the ministry and tourism committee at the local government level in the development of tourism resources. Two local government areas - Abakaliki and Afikpo North were used to address the second objective. Interviews were conducted with senior staff of Ebonyi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as well as its agencies - Ebonyi State Council for Arts and Culture, Ebonyi State Tourism Board and Ebonyi Hotels Afikpo/Abakaliki. Interviews were conducted at the headquarters of the two local government areas. Secondary sources of data from books, academic journals and public library were used to bolster primary data
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