ECONOMIC BENEFIT AND IMPACT OF CARNIVAL FESTIVAL TO THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA

1.1 Introduction

Tourism has become an important economic development tool for both developed and developing countries. There is agreement among experts that the travel and tourism sector is the fastest growing of global economy. Carnival's community spirit is the result of the cumulative efforts of many talented artists – musicians, costume designers, dancers, street theatre performers and sound engineers. Carnival arts are now recognized by the Arts Council as a "combined art": one that, at its best, brings together many art forms and traditions in new innovative production and performance (Agnes, 2004).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Carnivals constitute one of the main motivations in the choice of the tourist destinations worldwide. The empowerment of the “civilization” of “leisure” contributes to the development of this leisure tourism. Carnival events generate important flows of population, and constitute a vector of regional promotion. To this end, Carnival tourism then appears to be a key in the narrative of the area, since the lives and existences of its people revolve around the heritage of their varied civilizations. The Carnival diversity and collective heritage of the local people is firmly rooted in the core of tourism in Nigeria. This heritage, as opulent as it is diverse, is a fine agglomeration of the customs and Carnival practices of the various ethnicities making up Nigeria. To a considerable degree, this accounts for the natural enthusiasm for festivals, jamborees, guided tours and other similar physical engagements as the principal preferences of tourism in Nigeria, channeled through the cultures and customs of the people. Studies have shown that Carnival festivals confer a lot of socio-economic benefits on a people (Mmom, 2003). It has also been described as an engine and pivot for strengthening unity among a people. During Carnival festivities, community people tend to forget their differences; warring communities down their weapons and their attention is diverted from wars to fun. Through this process, unity is enhanced between and among communities in a region. Many festivals are organized to present different Carnival practices, sites and symbols of places. Other festivals have contributed to the birth of non-mainstream urban identities and have created a new feeling of “festival moments”, as one of the key important features of the modern “experience economy”, while some festivals play an important role in creating distraction for the people from the harsh reality of everyday life, a break away from work as a period of relaxation and occasionally upset the established social order (Kiwewa, 2012). Whatever the background or purpose, these festivals all had in common that they are powerful experiences, bringing together audiences and performers in a momentum of excitement and high quality content and excellence and had – even when not originally intended as such – a great impact on local economies (Sapsford, & Southern, 2007).

They create a lot of jobs and involve many services: in addition to the core group of artists, directors, designers, composers, you find sound and lighting technicians, printers, publicists and media, cleaners, ushers, caterers, ushers, ticket sellers, drivers and hotel owners and many more that benefit in one way or the other from the platform created by this festival. There is boost in business during festivities; given that the influx of people into the area tends to boost the local economy. This is so because there is increasing demand for accommodation; increasing demand for food; increasing demand for transportation and other communication infrastructure. More money flows into the local economy due to increased patronage. Artistes/ artists, transporters and traders have reported increased patronage; high sales turnover to business and general rise in income. As the range of Carnival festivals and major Carnival events has grown over the years, various evaluations and more in-depth studies have found that large scale events have a variety of potential impacts, including economic, social, Carnival, political, physical and environmental ones.

Therefore, in Calabar Carnival where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Economic Benefit and Impact of Carnival Festival to the Tourism Industry in Nigeria.

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1.3 Statement of the Problem

Despite the numerous implications of carnivals in Nigeria, these impacts are not always necessarily positive, but can be negative as well, or have a positive effect on one dimension (e.g. economic) while having a negative effect majorly on the environment as the society as various crimes are recorded in these periods of carnivals. It is a truism that with the population influx into an area, there come with it increasing challenges such as increasing crime rates. For instance, increase in criminal activities was reported in Calabar, Cross River State during the Calabar carnival season. There were reported cases of rape and robberies; increase in unwanted pregnancies is usually fallout of such festivities (Inah, 2003). However, irrespective of the above ill associated with Carnival festivities, theft, robberies as well as pockets of quarrels and fighting, the importance and contributions of Carnival festivities on the socio-economic life of a region cannot be over emphasized.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Economic Benefit and Impact of Carnival Festival to the Tourism Industry in Nigeria using Calabar Carnival as a Case Study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To examine the social benefits of carnivals in Nigeria.
2. To examine the impact of carnivals on cultural development and tourism in Nigeria.
3. To examine the relationship between carnivals and economic development of Nigeria.
4. To examine how carnivals influences economic development.
5. To assess the role of government in ensuring the promotion of carnivals in Nigeria.
6. To assess the negative implications of carnivals in Nigeria.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Does Calabar Carnival in Nigeria have negative implications?
• What are the social benefits of carnivals in Nigeria?
• What is the impact of carnivals on cultural development and tourism in Nigeria?
• What is the relationship between carnivals and economic development of Nigeria?
• How do carnivals influence the economy of Nigeria?
• What is the role of government in ensuring the promotion of carnivals in Nigeria?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

H0: There is no significant relationship between carnivals and economic development in Nigeria.

H1: There is a significant relationship between carnivals and economic development in Nigeria.

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1.7 Significance of Study

This study would greatly benefit the Nigerian government and all related stakeholders as it would highlight the economic benefits of carnivals in Nigeria. This study would also be of immense importance to students, researchers or scholars who are interested in developing a further study on the subject matter.

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1.8 Scope of Study

This study is restricted to the Economic Benefit and Impact of Carnival Festival to the Tourism Industry in Nigeria using Calabar Carnival as a Case Study.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).