ABSTRACT

This study examined the Influence of insecurity on tourism development and patronage in Port Harcourt. It also examine to find out the forms of insecurity that affects development of tourism. The study also hopes to investigate the aspect of tourism development that is affected by insecurity. To also identify how insecurity affect tourism development and the level at which it affect it. Finally, the study also proffers solutions to challenges of insecurity on tourism development. The study adopted the descriptive survey method. A total number of two hundred (200) participants were selected using simple sampling technique. A self-structured questionnaire was used to collect data in this study.  Four research objectives and two hypotheses were tested using descriptive mean and Pearson moment correlation.The hypothesis of the study showed that there was significant negative relationship between insecurity and tourism development in Port Harcourt (r= -.34*, df = 198, p<.05). There was significant positive relationship between insecurity and defatted to location in Port Harcourt (r= .19*, df = 198, p<.05). Result showed that, police abuse (M=3.43), general insecurity of lives and property (M =3.54) and hostage taking (M=2.62)are the three common forms of insecurity that affects the development of tourism in Port Harcourt.  The result also found that event tourism (M =3.69), international (M=3.67) and educational tourism (M=2.76) are the three common forms of tourism that insecurity have affected in Port Harcourt. The result of the study also revealed that majority of respondent agreed that there was decrease in personal consumption as a result of insecurity on tourism in Port Harcourt. The study also found that security agencies should be provided with the necessary tools to fight insurgency and terrorism in the country has the mean value. The study concluded that insecurity have negative effect on tourism development.The study recommends that Government in Nigeria and particularly government of Port Harcourt should provide security personnel that is, police, soldiers amongst others in all tourist sites across the country. This will enable adequate security for both the people coming for visitation as well as the tourist sites/locations.