ABSTRACT

This work was carried out to ascertain the impact of cultural tourism on the development of Ahiazu Ivibaise l.g.a in imo state. Using the members of the traditional councils, village heads in AmuziAhiara, Obohia and Ogbe-Ahiara communities in Ahiazu Mbaise local government Area of Imo sate, Nigeria. The study Objectives were to determine the impact of iri-Ji, Eyiri-eyi obohia and iwa-akwa on Ahiazu Mbaise local government Area of Imo sate. The materials and method was survey design, the population for the study were 75. The respondents are made up of members of the traditional councils and the village heads in Amuzi-Ahiara, Obohia and Ogbe-Ahiara communities in Ahiazu Ivibaise L. G.A, Imo sate. Data for this research was generated using quantitative techniques, simple frequency and percentage were used to analyze the data generated for the research. The findings of this research revealed that the 3 festivals (iri-Ji, Eyiri-eyi obohia and iwa-akwa) has the following impacts on Ahiazu Mbaise: Increase in income, Employment generation, Attracts foreign investors, Promotion of local business, Foreign exchange earnings and Wealth distributions. Standardization of cultural/social lfe, Social learning/understanding, Intra-cultural understanding, improvement of cultural activities/heritage, Conservation of cultural heritage, Infrastructural development, improvement of the environmental quality, Beaut?fication of the environment. It was recommended that the government, communities in Ahiazu Iv[baise and other stake holders should collaborate with each other by providing all the raw materials and ideas needed for the development and improvement of the cultural heritage to meet the current cultural tourism demand in order should utilize the impacts of cultural tourism.