Abstract

This study examined the impact of tourism consumption on the social development of host communities in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study is a descriptive survey on a sample of 400 respondents from the host communities. Data obtained for the study were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics like the percentages, mean, standard deviation and regression analysis. Findings revealed that tourism consumption has significant social impact on the host communities. The quality of life of the host communities is said to have improved by tourism, thereby leading to an overall improvement in the standard of living of the host communities through the provision of facilities for Tourism purposes. On the negative perspective attitudes such as smoking, drug abuse and crime which are not consistent or in line with morality abide in the studied tourist destination. It was found that the cost of enjoying tourism products and services are relatively high that the poor cannot afford the cost of visiting tourist sites and hotels. Based on the analysis and findings of the study the following recommendations are made even though it is a difficult task to control the social activities of individuals generally, stakeholder and regulators of tourism in the host communities should make serious efforts to come up with tourism consumption guidelines which should be monitored and enforced. The state government should come up with standard social frameworks that must be established at the development stages to preserve and protect social and cultural values of the host communities. Anionwu, Carol "Impact of Tourism Consumption on the Social Development of Host Communities in Cross River State, Nigeria" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-2 | Issue-6 , October 2018, URL: http://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd18910.pdf

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