ABSTRACT

The study focused on the influence of government policies on the development of sustainable tourism destination in Abia State. The objectives of the study are; To identify the Abia State government tourism development policies, to ascertain the components of sustainability of the identified tourism development policies in Abia State, to examine the application of the identified government policies on sustainable tourism development in Abia state, to identify the factors that affect sustainable tourism development in relation to government policy and to identify the way forward. To achieve the objective of the study, survey research design was adopted. The researcher adopted primary data in getting the required information through the use of structured questionnaire. The population of the study is 95 managers and staff of the selected tourism destination. The findings revealed that (i) Low taxation, security, public interest protection, free entry and free exit were the major Abia state government tourism development policies. (ii) Economic stability and environmental compatibility were the major components of sustainability of the identified tourism development policies in Abia State. (iii) Public interest protection, free entry and free exit and road accessibility were the major identified government policies that enhance sustainable tourism development in Abia state. (iv) Infrastructural development, economic issues, government restriction and capital base were the major factors that affect sustainable tourism development in relation to government policy in Abia state. (v) Adequate infrastructure, free entry and free exit, security and government involvement were the major way forward to the factors affecting tourism development in relation to government policy in Abia state. The study recommend that (i) The government should practice low taxation, security, public interest protection, free entry and free exit as the major tourism development policies in Abia state. (ii) Economic stability and environmental compatibility should be practiced by Abia state government as the major components to enhance the sustainability of the identified tourism development policies in Abia state. (iii) Abia state government should improve on the major identified government policies such as public interest protection, free entry and free exit and road accessibility in order to enhance sustainable tourism development in the state. (iv) Infrastructural development, economic issues, government restriction and capital base should be looked into and effected by Abia state government as the major factors that affect sustainable tourism development in relation to government policy in Abia state. (v) Abia state government should consider and implement adequate infrastructure, free entry and free exit, security and government involvement as the way forward to factors affecting tourism development in relation to government policy in Abia state.