SOCIOECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF BOVINA VIEW HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY TO TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN KWARA STATE

Description

ABSTRACT

This study on socioeconomic contributions of bovina view hospitality industry to tourism development in Kwara state is aimed at establishing the socioeconomic impact of tourism development through hospitality in the study area. The researcher intended to assess the contribution of hospitality to the socioeconomic growth of tourism in Kwara state. Three main methods in data collection were used such as open ended questionnaires, interview and direct observation from the hotels. The questionnaires were written down in an organized manner and distributed to the respondents ready to respond.

Interviews were also conducted with a highly ethical standard from the researchers which brought about important results. Observation was conducted with the permission from the management

The data were organized, analysed and presented in detail in chapter four. In the data presented in chapter four show that the respondents had a general knowledge of the concept of the hotel and tourism which lead them to respond positively concerning the study of how hospitality industry contribute to the socio economic growth of tourism in Kwara state.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Tourism is a rapidly growing phenomenon and has become one of the largest industries in the world. The impact of tourism varies extremely. On one hand, it plays an important and certainly positive role in the socio economic and political development in destination countries by, for instance, offering new employment opportunities. Also, in certain instances, it may contribute to a broader cultural and understanding by creating awareness, respecting the diversity of cultures and ways of life. On the other hand, it is a tool to create jobs. Tourism has been a major driver of socioeconomic development in Western society; it is an alternative strategy for sustainability and diversification of economy for important policy of a good government. In recent times, tourism is one of the largest industries that have contributed to the socioeconomic growth of many countries especially countries where tourism is the mainstay of her economy, World Tourism Organization WTO, 1998; cited in Ejaetal, 2012 and Ojo, 2014. Despite the fact that that industry is a vehicle for promoting cultural exchange that enhances international understanding and goodwill among the diverse people of the world, it is also a catalyst for enhancing many country destination employment opportunities, foreign exchange and infrastructural facilities ESCAP, 2002; cited in Eja etal, 2012. The development of tourism as a critical sector of the economy has gradually assumed a centre stage in the economic agenda of most nations of the world. In the past few decades, international attention on tourism as a critical sector of the economy has greatly increased. This is in view of its capacity to quickly stimulate income growth, generate foreign exchange and contribute to domestic earnings of government through fees and taxes Vanguard Newspaper, June 24, 2011. The interest in tourism by the Nigerias government started way back in the 1960s with the Obasanjos regime in 1976 establishing the Nigeria Tourism Board NTB now Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation NTDC via Decree No. 54 of 1976 reviewed to Decree No. 86 of 1991 and giving it a preferred sector status respectively. Master Plan on tourism development in Nigeria started in 1982 with a tourism development policy first rolled out in 1990. To further consolidate the quest for quality service delivery in the tourism industry, the government created the Federal Ministry of Tourism and Culture to actualize the dream of catching up with the global train in tourism development Munzali, 2011. Tourism has always been regarded as a means of economic modernization, but has not been seriously considered as a means of social and cultural modernization. The concept of socioeconomic modernization emphasizes improvements in various indicators, including improvement in living conditions and the quality of life and wellbeing of populations Owan, 2012.According to Boo 1992, tourism has recently been assumed as the world largest employer of labour and most safe of all the industries with regards to atmospheric pollution. Tourism has been describe by Cross 1998 as an industry of globalization which has witnessed people of different nations. As this happens, new friendships are established, interpretation of cultural differences resulting in greater tolerance occur, and global diversities are better appreciated and understood. Thus, the emergence of a synthetic global culture has been largely predicted since 1956 to become a reality UNESCO, 2007.

The hospitality industry is a broad category of fields within the service industry that includes lodging, event planning, theme parks, transportation, cruise line, and additional fields within the tourism industry. The hospitality industry is a multibilliondollar industry that depends on the availability of leisure time and disposable income. A hospitality unit such as a restaurant, hotel, or an amusement park consists of multiple groups such as facility maintenance and direct operations servers, housekeepers, porters, kitchen workers, bartenders, management, marketing, and human resources etc..

Usage rate, or its inverse vacancy rate, is an important variable for the hospitality industry. Just as a factory owner would wish a productive asset to be in use as much as possible as opposed to having to pay fixed costs while the factory is not producing, so do restaurants, hotels, and theme parks seek to maximize the number of customers they process in all sectors. This led to formation of services with the aim to increase usage rate provided by hotel consolidators. Information about required or offered products are brokered on business networks used by vendors as well as purchasers.

In looking at various industries, barriers to entry by newcomers and competitive advantages between current players are very important. Among other things, hospitality industry players find advantage in old classics location, initial and ongoing investment support reflected in the material upkeep of facilities and the luxuries located therein, and particular themes adopted by the marketing arm of the organization in question for example at theme restaurants. Also very important are the characteristics of the personnel working in direct contact with the customers. The authenticity, professionalism, and actual concern for the happiness and wellbeing of the customers that is communicated by successful organizations is a clear competitive advantage.

Hotels are the essential subsectors in the growth of tourism industry in the world, since without hotels; it may be difficult for guests/tourists to travel to a particular preferred destination. Kwara Hotels, 8, Ahmadu Bello Avenue, G.R.A. Ilorin, Mirabilis Hotel, Umaru Audu Road, Along Fate, Ilorin, Circular Hotel, New Yidi Road, Off Unity Road, Ilorin, Yebumot Hotel, Western Reservoir Road, Olorunsogo Area, Ilorin, Satellite Motel,AjaseIpo Road, Ilorin, Rahamans Hotel, 1, Fuja Bello Street, Off Stadium Road, Kastol Hotel, FederalRoad Kulende, Ilorin, J amp; A Hotel, Federal Road Kulende, Ilorin, Tower Gate Hotel, University Road Tanke, Ilorin, Rock Motel, Offa Road, Ilorin, Abila Guest House, Maraba Area, Ilorin, Park Guest House, Reservation Road, Ilorin, TheAvalon Hotel, Offa, Salahudeen Adetoyi Avenue, Lafun Guest House.OmuAran, Irepodun L.G .A. Kwara State. White House Hotel, Sawmill Area, Ilorin, New Deal Guest House, Agba Road GRA, Ilorin, Deens Motel, Olorunsogo Area, Ilorin, Bekandims Hotel Ltd., University Road, Ilorin, Oakland, 86,AgboOba Road, P. O. Box4565, Bliss GuestHouse Ahman Patigi Road, G.R.A., lIorin and many others which attract most of the tourists to visit in Kwara state to enjoy the good scenery of the State. In general, tourism has become a significant industry in both rich and poor economies because of its important impacts on economic, livelihoods and sociocultural development Shah 2002. And all these are a result of quality and standard hotels which attract tourists and motivate tourists choice of place to stay and place to eat. Hotels as well as other forms of accommodations are generally segmented by the services and amenities offered. These two factors, along with location, also have a bearing on the price range. Budget hotels offered clean simple rooms that provide the basics of places to sleeps and shower. Usually budget hotels are designed for travellers looking to maximize their fund and minimize their expenses. Prices can range from 80 US per night to 70 US per night. Business hotels offer high standard of services by providing rooms equipped with facilities for business travellers that would consider necessities. Usually found in business class hotel room are high speed internet connections, alarm clocks, comfortable beds, iron and ironing boards, coffee markers, complimentary use paper, delivering and hair dryers. Rates can range from 80 US per night to 250 US per night. The facilities of business hotels would also offer an in house restaurant, bar, exercise room and shuttle service to nearby airports. Limit concierge assistance is often included as well as room service, laundry and dry cleaning as well as wakeup calls. Luxury hotels are known for their 7 lavish dcor and extra ordinary service. With superior amenities, accommodations at luxury hotels are designed to thoroughly pamper and impress guests.

1.2.STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:

The contribution of Bovina view hotel in the growth of tourism industry in Kwara state looks impressive, but one would like to know more about their implications before concluding that this is a positive contribution of the tourist hotels. One would like to know how this hotel contributes to the growth to tourism industry, who benefit from these contributions and whether such contributions have anything to do with the tourism industry, as with all modernization efforts to economic gain, there are costs and benefits implications as well. These may be important, as hotels are peculiar for services delivery to their clients who are coming to enjoy the provided services. Therefore at a time when Kwara state is rapidly becoming a major tourist destination, getting ready for rapid increase of population towards mass tourism, it seems valuable to examine the hotels effects to the tourists.

Therefore, the study intended to assess the contribution of Bovina view hotel in the growth of tourism industry in Kwara state by examining the carrying capacity of respective tourist hotels, the categories of tourists who visit or stay in Kwara state hotels, identifying the challenges facing the hotel service providers in Kwara state as well as suggesting solutions to the challenges facing hotel service providers in Kwara state.

1.3.RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:

The main objective of the study is/ or was to assess the Bovina view hotel contributed to the growth of tourism industry in Kwara state.

1.3.1.SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

1. To account for the carrying capacity of respective tourist hotels.

2. To assess the categories of tourists who visit or stay in Kwara state hotels.

3. To investigate the socio economic contribution of hotels in the growth of tourism.

4. To identify the challenges facing the Bovina view hotel service provider in Kwara state.

5. To suggest solutions to the challenges facing hotel service providers in Kwara.

1.4.RESEARCH QUESTION: