Interaction Effects of the Demographic Factors on Tourism Sector Development in Nigeria: A Case Study of Anambra State

Abstract

Nigeria’s quest to diversify her economy into tourism over the years out of being a mono product economy have not recorded any significant success in respect of tourist arrivals and revenues despite implemented policy targets. The extent to which the policy targets can accomplish the objective of developing tourism sector depends on the level and sincerity of governments’ partnership with private individuals. Currently, there is little or no partnership, and marketing and promotion which targeted private individuals (locals and foreigners) have not been significantly successful. While the locals are constrained by some demographic factors including health quality of life, gender, socioeconomic status and educational level to demand for tourism services or invest in the sector, the foreigners are not motivated to buy Nigeria’s tourism services due to unattractive and poorly developed destination in Nigeria. The policy makers in government are yet to understand fully how the aforementioned demographic factors jointly influence tourism sector development as a result of dearth of studies of Nigerian background in this regard, especially in respect of Anambra state. Therefore, the study investigated the demographic factors and their joint effect on tourism sector development in Nigeria: case study of Anambra state, using propensity to invest and participate in tourism sector development as mediating variable. About 400 subjects were constituted for the study using multi stage sampling from sampling units in Anambra state. The study employed a generalized univariate model multiple regression to analyze the within and between subject effects of health quality of life, gender, socioeconomic status and educational level on propensity to invest and participate in tourism sector development. Results indicated among others that: (1) There is significant joint effect of health quality of life and gender on tourism sector development. (2) There is significant joint effect of gender, socioeconomic status and educational level on tourism sector development. (3) There is significant joint effect of health quality of life, socioeconomic status and educational level on tourism sector development. It was recommended inter alia that Anambra state should partner with private individuals in the area of healthcare, gender inclusiveness, education and financial capital to develop tourism sector in Anambra state and this can be replicated by all states in Nigeria and the federal government.