CHAPTER I

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Introduction

Tourism is a business activity that caters for the needs of visitors or tourist by producing them with services such as transportation, leisure activities and recreational facilities, accommodation, feeding (catering services) at a particular period of time while away from home (Johnson, 2012).

Tourism plays a vital role in the economy of this Nation (Nigeria) and all over the world. The public and private organization are investing in the tourism industry. Nigeria is blessed with tourism features like the lake, sea river, rocks, barbeach, valley, mountains, culture, entertainment etc. just to mention but a few. Development in the tourism sector is inevitable if the nation must continue to enjoy the undiscovered and potential wealth of these scenic beauty (Kraft, 2012).

So far, the tourism sector has suffered a lot of setbacks due to lack of tourism professionals to handle the proper functioning and management in the area of maximizing the resources. However, there are few tertiary institutions of higher learning that have been established to develop man power resources as professionals in the field. Only few universities and polytechnics offer “Tourism” as a course of study at professional level and Kaduna Polytechnic is not an exception. Therefore, it is in this spirit that the need to develop a tourism village becomes important in tertiary institution, Kaduna Polytechnic inclusive. The important of having a tourism village in Kaduna Polytechnic cannot be over emphasize. Therefore, the need of having a tourism village is to provide tourism student with a demonstration resort centre that provide a background practical knowledge for the student. It also educate student with perspective of what tourism product is all about rather than seeing tourism product from a myopic point of view. It gives student more in sight on how tourism product are planned, developed and managed effectively which will further enhance the ability of student to handle challenges when they are gainfully employed. The development of tourism village will also provide a good atmosphere of relaxation for student and the host of Kaduna Polytechnic. It can also serve as a viable resource centre for tourism purpose and activities worth visiting by the public (Keefe, 2017).

However, for any dream to see the light of the day, certain objectives needs to be set in order to achieve such dreams. The development of tourism village cannot be achieve without the following objective, these include: To examine the concept of tourism village in tertiary institution (Kaduna Polytechnic), To determine the needs for a tourism village in Kaduna Polytechnic, To ascertain the major problems associated with developing a tourism village in Kaduna Polytechnic and also to examine the types of facilities needed for good tourism village. Much more, not ruling out the need for tourism study (Cooper et al., 2010).

Several challenges are associated with project of development, until those problems are solved, the objective of developing tourism village may forever remain a dream. Problems like financial constraints, luke warm attitude displayed by management to execute such projects etc. are the major problems around the development.

It is to say at this point that the tourism sector will not have thrived well without the help of tourism professionals. Whatever policies or decision that the government will take to execute the tourism master plan in Nigeria, will continue to be a dream without the support and help of tourism professionals.

Hence, the need to develop a tourism village for educational purpose in Kaduna Polytechnic, which plays an important role in promotion and development of the national tourism sector.

To this end, the research work attempts to focus on the needs to examine the development of tourism village in Kaduna Polytechnic, to look into the facilities that will best suit a good tourism village and to look at the major problem associated with the development (Hamilier, 2013).

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Tourism sector in Nigeria today have long depend on the government for funding to gain more recognition among other sectors in the economy. In Nigeria, a lot of sectors especially the tourism sector have not been able to reach its expected climax in its contribution to the economic and other social benefit in the country due to lack of funding. As such, financial constrain has been a major problem. Another problem is that tourism project is capital intensive and needs the attention of both the public and the private sectors, considering the fact above, the case of the Kaduna Polytechnic tourism village development is not an exception.

Management is faced with the problem of funding and has not helped matters in developing and putting in place the necessary structures and infrastructural facilities for the development and completion of the tourism village.

Most importantly, when the need for such development at the tourism village is not articulated, it can delay learning opportunity on the part of the students (Chigora, 2016).

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this project is to develop tourism village as a demonstrating resort centre that can provide students with the practical experience needed for tourism study and for relaxation which serves for tourism purpose.

i.        To examine the types of facilities needed for a good standard tourism village.

ii.       To determine how it can benefit the tourism student, the department and the management of Kaduna Polytechnic.

iii.      To ascertain the major problems associated with developing a tourism village in Kaduna Polytechnic.

1.4     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of this study is to help in sensitizing the government, private sectors, management and tourism professionals in the field of tourism on how to develop and maximize tourism resources in Kaduna Polytechnic.

This study will benefit the management of Kaduna Polytechnic to attain a high level of implementation plan to set out for the development of a tourism village. It will also help them to set a standard of learning for the student in order to produce intelligent tourism professional in the labour market (Chibaya, 2013).

The study will help the government to see the need to develop tourism village in most of the tertiary institution of higher learning for tourism study. It will benefit them in the area of having professionals that will spare head the affairs of the tourism sector in the future for tourism sustainability and national development.

Private sectors will also benefit by making right decision when trying to find out where to invest. It will give them more insight on tourism development and its economic benefit.

However, this research work will benefit students and researchers in the field of tourism as a guide in order to carried out research that are related to tourism.

1.5     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this research study is to examine the need to develop tourism village in Kaduna Polytechnic.

To also understand the concept of tourism village in tertiary institution (Kaduna Polytechnic).

Furthermore, to look into the facilities that will be required for the development of tourism village in Kaduna Polytechnic.

To also ascertain the major problems associated with developing the tourism village in Kaduna Polytechnic well as the benefits that the development of tourism village will bring to the student and Kaduna Polytechnic.

1.6     RESEARCH QUESTION

i.        What type of facilities will be needed for a good tourism village?

ii.       How can it be of benefit to the student department and management of Kaduna Polytechnic?

iii       What are the major problems associated with developing a tourism village in Kaduna Polytechnic?

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