Harnessing the Tourism Potentials of South East Nigeria for Regional Development

This study examined harnessing the Tourism Potentials of South East Nigeria for Regional Development. the specific objectives are insecurity situation on hospitality industry, poor infrastructural facilities on the comfort and convenience of tourism and the contribution of tourism in solving the problem of unemployment in the South East, Nigeria. The study was conducted in the five states of the South East, Nigeria where the researcher employed secondary and primary data collection methods to access information. The primary data was obtained through interview, questionnaire and observation methods used on some staff and stake holders in the tourism and hospitality industry. The data were analyzed using Taro Yamani’s statistical model. The study revealed that, T. V. = 9.488. (3.72) this show that, Security situation does not have positive effect on hospitality industry in South East Nigeria; 9.488(0.48) it shows that, poor infrastructural facilities do not have positive effect on the comfort and convenience of tourism in South East, Nigeria, if nothing urgent is done in the management of the industry. And T. V. 9.488(5.2), it shown that tourism does not have any positive contribution in solving the problem of unemployment in the South East, Nigeria, if nothing urgent is done in the management of the industry. The study concluded that, based on the of the findings, we hereby conducted that, Security situation have negative effect on hospitality industry; poor infrastructural facilities have negative effect on the comfort and convenience and as a result, the tourism could not contribute in solving the problem of unemployment in the South East, Nigeria. we hereby recommended that, Both the state governments in the South East, Nigeria and allied stakeholders in tourism industry should give both political and moral support to provide effective security for hospitality industry in the South East Nigeria. Also, robust Security architecture to be put in place in the South East, Nigeria so as to attract tourists. The various state governments in the zone should make attractive legislations and policies to enhance infrastructural facilities in South East, Nigeria. The tourism sector should be placed in the hands of the professionals so as to give it a better management in order to contribute in solving the problem of unemployment in the South East, Nigeria.