Developing Heritage Tourism in Imo State, Nigeria: Socio-Economic and Cultural Gains

Abstract

The Igbo area of Nigeria and other parts of Africa has unique natural environment coupled with the rich socio-cultural characteristics making one of the notable beehives of heritage tourists. This is peculiar to areas with harnessed heritage tourism potentials. The major challenge has been the knowledge of the availability of heritage tourism potentials, indispensable contribution of heritage tourism to socio-economic development, and sustainable development and management of heritage resources for tourism promotion. Imo, as one of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is distinguished amongst other states in the Igbo area of Nigeria with great potentials of heritage tourism development. This is made manifest in the availability of various classes of heritage resources that are evenly distributed amongst various communities in the state. This paper had an in-depth study on the heritage resources in Imo State and their various classes. The paper also looked at various developmental stratagem and models towards ensuring a sustainable heritage tourism development in the state for socio-economic development and preservation of the heritage resources and rich value system of the people.

Keywords: Imo, Sustainable tourism, preservation, heritage resources, heritage tourism, socio-economic development, Cultural gains, TCIM Model.