ABSTRACT

The study examines the effect of COVID-19 protocols on choice of hotels in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State. Specifically, the study sought to determine the effect of the use of face mask on choice of hotels in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State, effects of hand sanitizer on choice of hotels in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State, effect of social distance on choice of hotels in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State; and effect of self-quarantines on choice of hotels in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State. Four research questions and four hypotheses guided the study. The literature reviewed for this study was under the following subheadings: conceptual framework, theoretical frameworks, empirical studies and summary of literature reviewed.

A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The study was carried out in hotels in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State. In other to determine the population of the study, purposive sampling techniques were adopted for the study and in each of the 6 hotels in the area; twenty five (25) guests was randomly selected. Hence the total sample size was 150. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire developed by the researcher. The reliability result of 0.62 was obtained as the result of the overall reliability of the instrument which indicated that the items were reliable. The data was analyzed using mean and Standard Deviation (SD) for research questions 1-4 while t-test was used to analyzed the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that the respondents agreed that all the items were the effect of COVID-19 protocols on choice of hotels in Umuahia North of Abia State. Therefore, the null hypothesis of no significant effects was rejected in all the items tested. Hence the variables had significant effects on the choice of hotels in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State. The researcher recommended among other things, that the management of hotel industries should continue with the COVID-19 protocols for adequate hygiene and preventive measures.

TABLE OF CONTENTS                                           PAGES

Cover page                                                                                                                              i

Title Page                                                                                                                                ii

Declaration                                                                                                                              iii

Certification                                                                                                                            iv

Dedication                                                                                                                              v

Acknowledgements                                                                                                                vi

Table of Contents                                                                                                                   vii

List of Tables                                                                                                                          viii

Abstract                                                                                                                                  ix        

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION                                                                                          1

1.1 Backgrounds to the Study                                                                                                            1

1.2 Statement of the Problems                                                                                                4

1.3 Objectives of the Study                                                                                                    6

1.4 Research Questions                                                                                                           6

1.5 Research Hypotheses                                                                                                        7

1.4 Significance of the Study                                                                                                 7

1.7 Scope of the Study                                                                                                           8

CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE                                                     9

2.1       Conceptual Framework                                                                                               9

2.1.1    Hotels                                                                                                                          9

2.1.2    Origin of the Hotel Industry                                                                                       10

2.1.3    Types of Hotel                                                                                                            11

2.1.4    Classification of Hotels                                                                                              12

2.1.5     Coronavirus                                                                                                                13

2.1.6    Origin of Coronavirus ( COVID-19)  Pandemic in Nigeria                           14

2.1.7    COVID-19 protocols from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)                 15

2.1.8    Necessary equipment and personal protective kit at the reception desk                    18

2.1.9    Handling COVID-19 cases in hotels and accommodation                                        25

2.1.10 Effect of Covid-19 protocols on quest behaviour                                                      26

2.2       Theoretical Framework                                                                                               30

2.2.1    Piaget’ Social Distance Theory                                                                                   30

2.3       Review of Empirical Literature                                                                                  31

2.4       Summary of Review of Related Literature                                                                36

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY                                                                                         37

3.1       Design of the Study                                                                                                    37

3.2       Area of the Study                                                                                                       37

3.3       Population of the Study                                                                                              38

3.4       Sample and Sampling Techniques                                                                              38       

3.5       Instrument for Data Collection                                                                                   38

3.6       Validation of Instrument                                                                                            39

3.7       Reliability of the Instrument                                                                                       39       

3.8       Method of Data Collection                                                                                         40

3.9       Method of Data Analysis                                                                                           40

CHAPTER 4: PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA                                        41

4.1       Result Presentation                                                                                                     41

            Research Question 1                                                                                                   41

            Research Question 2                                                                                                   42

            Research Question 3                                                                                                   43

            Research Question 4                                                                                                   44

4.2       Test of Hypotheses                                                                                                     45

            Hypothesis 1                                                                                                               45

            Hypothesis 2                                                                                                               46

            Hypothesis 3                                                                                                               47

4.3       Summary of Findings                                                                                                 47

4.4       Discussion of Findings                                                                                               49

CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS                  51

5.1        Summary                                                                                                                     51

5.2        Conclusion                                                                                                                  52

5.3       Recommendations                                                                                                      52

5.4       Implications of the Findings                                                                                       53

5.5       Limitations of the Study                                                                                             53

5.6       Suggestions for Further Studies                                                                                 54

            References                                                                                                                  55

            Appendices                                                                                                                 58

LIST OF TABLES

Table                           Contents                                                                                              Pages

1:         Mean rating on the effects of the use of face mask on choice of hotels in

Umuahia North LGA of Abia State                                                                           41

2:         Mean rating on the effects of hand sanitizer on choice of hotels in

            Umuahia North LGA of Abia State                                                                           42

3:         Mean rating on the effects of social distance on choice of hotels in

            Umuahia North LGA of Abia State                                                                           43       

4:         Mean rating on the effects of self-quarantine on choice of hotels in

            Umuahia North LAG of Abia State                                                                           44