Title:
AN ASSESSMENT OF GOVERNMENT AND HERITAGE CUSTODIAN ROLES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL TOURISM IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

Authors:
Omotoba, Nathaniel Ileri , Omotoso, Oluwatuyi And Igbalajobi, Olusola Johnson

Abstract:
The study aims to examine the role played by both the government and selected rural communities who are custodians of cultural heritages, festivals and artifacts. The objectives of the study are to identify tourism sites and festivals in the study area, to examine the developmental projects embarked on by government, look into the level of community participation in selected festivals and to determine the type of approach used by government when embarking on projects relating to tourism in this community. A total of 180 questionnaires were administered in target population of systematically selected rural communities while 20 questionnaires were administered on senior staffs of the Bureau of Tourism in Ekiti State. The theory of Demand and Supply was used as the basis of its theoretical underpinning. Data were collected from both primary (fieldwork) and secondary (Bureau of Tourism, Ekiti State) sources. The chi-square statistical method was used to test formulated hypothesis. The study finds out that the conditions of infrastructure at the host communities were not at their best and this tends to reduce the level of patronage of cultural sites and festivals. Furthermore, it was deduced from the study that host communities were not involved in decision making process on developmental issues relating to their heritages. The study recommends on the use of bottom-top approach by government before embarking on developmental projects. It also recommends the creation of awareness of these festivals, artifacts and other cultural heritages especially by government