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International Journal of Marine Science 2013, Vol.3, No.33, 258-266
http://ijms.sophiapublisher.com
259
with a view to proffering workable solutions to the
existing problems. To achieve this aim, objectives
were set to examine the existing amenities at the
beach, identify socio-economic benefits accruable to
the people within the region and identify problems
associated with the beach tourism prospects.
2 Abridged Literature Review
2.1 Tourism and economic development
Tourism is defined as “the activities of persons
travelling to and staying in places outside their usual
environment for not more than one year for leisure,
business and other purposes not related with the
exercise of an activity remunerated from within the
place visited” (Olorunfemi and Raheem, 2008)
.
Tourism always plays an important role in economic
development of an area (Kammler and Schernewski,
2004). Tourism can have positive as well as negative
effects on an area. The impacts depend on the kind of
tourism developed in the tourist area and the volume
and characteristics of the tourists (extent of stay,
activity, type of transport, travel arrangement, type of
facilities available, etc). Tourism is like export
industries because it generates foreign exchange.
However, unlike export industries, consumers have to
travel to destinations to consume the products they
purchase (for example going to a beach or a theme
park in a different country; tourism products are
generally location specific). It is also important to know
that leakages take place as a result of capital flight.
The tourism industry is the largest industry in the
world. The prominence of the industry in trade is quite
widespread. According to the World Tourism
Organization (WTO, 2001), it ranks among the top
five export categories for 83% of countries and is the
prevailing source of foreign exchange earnings for not
less than 38% of them. In 2002, international tourism
increased by 3 percent to 715 million arrivals contrary
to expectation as this was one of the most difficult
times in recent tourism history (WTO, 2002). In 2001,
for the first time in nearly 20 years, international
tourist influxes actually declined by 0.6 percent. The
drop reflected the impacts of both the September 11
terrorist attacks on the United States of America, and
the global economic meltdown. Generally, tourism-
related spending accounted for some US $4.2 trillion
of global economic activity in 2002 and represented
12% of total world exports, according to the World
Tourism Organization (WTO). Despite the employment
slowdown, the activity generated an estimated 199
million jobs opportunity – one in every 13 jobs
globally. Based on 2004 data, this was the largest
industry in the world, with receipts from international
tourism expenditure totalling US $474 billion in 2004
(WTO, 2005).
Receipts from international tourism in destinations
around the world grew by 4% in 2012 reaching US$
1.075 trillion (euro 837 billion) worldwide, up by 4%
in real terms, from US$ 1.042 trillion (euro 749 billion)
in 2011 (WTO, 2013). This growth is equal to the 4%
increase in international tourist arrivals which reached
1.035 billion in 2012. An additional US$ 219 billion
was recorded in receipts from international passenger
transport, bringing total export earnings generated by
international tourism in 2012 to US$ 1.3 trillion.
Tourism is very important for economic development
of a nation, through its positive effects on employment,
exports, spur of infrastructure provision, generation of
revenue, and promotion of international cultural
activities, peace and harmony. As observed by World
Tourism Organization (WTO, 2001), tourism is able to
contribute to a development which is economically,
ecologically, and socially sustainable, because it has
less impact on natural resources and the environment
than most other industries. Thus, tourism plays a great
role in promoting the principles of sustainable
development.
Africa, and particularly Nigeria’s landscape, is spotted
with natural tourist attractions that are comparable to
the best in the world. This is perfected by her rich
cultural and traditional heritage, which dates back to
over two thousand years (FRN, 2004). It possesses
distinctive tourist attractions, many of which are
overland safaris (national parks and exotic game
viewing), deep-sea recreational fishing, lake and river
fishing, archaeological tours, beach resorts and hotels,
exposition centres, coconut and palm groves, and
recreational beaches lined with trees (Felix and
Usman, 2008).
According to Butler (2006), in 2003, Nigeria
received 2.4 million tourists. The largest contingents
came from Niger (503,066), Benin (318,716) and
Ghana (167,167). In 2002 tourism receipts totalled
US $263 million. He further informed that the