Cultural Diversification and Tourism Development in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State

This study examined the relationship between Cultural Diversification and Tourism Development in Obio Akpor Local Government Area, (LGA) in Rivers State. The objectives of the study were to determine the relationship between Art & Craft and Infrastructures in Tourism Development in Obio Akpor Local Government Area; ascertain how Arts and Crafts influence Job Creation in Tourism Development in Obio Akpor LGA; examine relationship between Festival and Infrastructure in Tourism Development in Obio Akpor LGA; ascertain the relationship between Festival and Job Creation in Obio Akpor LGA. The research population covered the indigenes of Obio/Akpor LGA. 100 respondents were drawn using Simple Random Sampling Technique. Face and content validity were employed to assess the relevance of the instrument. Cronbach Alpha Statistics was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. The data was analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviation; and the Null Hypotheses were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, (SPSS) version 22. The findings revealed that, there were positive correlations between the dimensions of Cultural Diversification, (Art & Craft and Festival) and Measures of Tourism Development, (Infrastructures and Job Creation); which implied significant relationship between Independent Variables and Dependent Variables. It was concluded that Festival had the greatest effect on Job Creation and Infrastructural Development in Obio/Akpor LGA. We therefore, recommended that, the people of Obio/Akpor L.G.A should be Culturally Sensitive in promoting Creativity through Flexible Co-existence.