1.1 Introduction
Religious tourism is a form of tourism whereby people of the same faith travel individually or in groups for religious purposes. This form of tourism comprises many facets of the travel industry ranging from pilgrimages, missionary travel, leisure (fellowship), vacations, faith-based cruising, crusades, conventions and rallies, retreats, monastery visits and guest stays, Christian and faith-based camps, and visits to religious tourist attractions. Religious tourism is one of the earliest forms of tourism that was practiced by people travelling to holy sites. This form of tourism could be traced way back to the dawn of humanity. According to Biblical accounts, sacred religious sites were visited by admirers or people who shared the same faith and fellowship while exploring the holy sites. Today, these religious sites have become part of the cultural landscape within their environs and now constitute major players in the tourism market; thus, improving the economy of host communities. Cities like Mecca, Rome, Jerusalem etc continue to attract millions of visitors on a yearly basis.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Nigeria is a country with many different religions. The majority of the people are Muslims, but there is also a large Christian community and many different ethnic religious communities. Thus, religious pilgrimages and travels are significant motivations today. Although many Nigerians profess either Christianity or Islam, they have continued to practice some of the older religious traditions like ancestor worship and the belief in deities.
Tourism according to MCINTOSH and Gupta (1977) as any voluntary activity that temporarily takes person away from his or her usual place of residence in order to satisfy a need either for pleasure, excitement, experience or relaxation. Tourism many be seen to consist senses of encounter in which visitors interact with their hosts.
Many disciplines, as Okpoko and Okpoko (2008) acknowledged, such as geography, sociology, economics, management, anthropology, and archaeology discuss tourism. This means that on the one hand tourism has a role to play within such disciplines and vice versa. The impact given to tourism by a particular discipline depends on what the discipline basically communicates to society as its priority. Since sociology, anthropology and archaeology exercise impact on tourism, by inference or by extension also religion shows impact on tourism. In some universities religion is studied in the faculty of social sciences, like at University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). In some other universities, it falls under the faculty of Arts or humanities. Wherever it is placed however, it shows the various ways various institutes and people see the role played by religion in society. Religion does not practice itself and tourism does not practice itself either. Both are practised by human beings. Even though Okpoko and Okonkwo (2008:8) point out that “tourism is about pleasure and enjoyment,” they however acknowledge that the subject is growing and expanding in Nigeria, and so it is already showing off social problems associated with growth. For this reason they hold that the time has come for a deeper understanding of tourism so as to be able to contain problems it could possibly pose to society. Considering this fact then, tourism assumes a meaning far beyond what has been given to it as being about pleasure and enjoyment. The history of tourism could be traced back to the days when Jesus Christ was born. The birth of Jesus Christ which inside the three wise men to journey, from the east of Jerusalem to king to visit Jesus Christ with different gifts. Mathew chapter 2 (The holy bible), Tourism is said to be God’s own given gift to man, in the sense that any tourist attraction centre is beautiful, thrilling and a marvellous sight to behold which will leave you thinking of God’s great kindness to man.
Religion according to Socrates (a greek philosopher, 1912) is defined as the practise that depicts the belief of people which are of more importance to their everyday life. It controls the laws, how you think and act, what you believe in, value etc. This have led to a dramatic increase in knowledge about their cultures, norms and also the establishment of economic and social histories of progress.
History has it that the starting point of religion was from the tribal band whose religion is amonistic and involved shamans (a medicine man from a similar region) and totems (an object; species, plant, natural phenomenon symbolising a family). Since the group was tribal, there was no permanent sanctuary for worship with cultic rites centre on identification with wild animals and appeasing spirits of the hunted animals.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the contribution of religious tourism to the development of the tourism sector.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the problems encountered during the course of engaging on the religion tourism activities. The major problems include insufficient disposable income to partake and enjoy the various religious activities, transportation problems, accommodation and food and beverages services, and the major things that affects tourist from engaging in the religion tourism.
The major problems include insufficient disposable income to partake and enjoy the various religious activities, transportation problems, accommodation and food and beverages services, and the major things that affects tourist from engaging in the religion tourism.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to find out the contribution of religious tourism to the development of the tourism sector in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To find out factors instigating people to embark on tourism
- To find out if religion motivate people to embark on tourism
- To find out if religion have an impact on tourism and hospitality industry
- To ascertain the relationship between religion tourism, and the hospitality industry
- To find out if government participate in the development of religion
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Is there any motivation for people to embark on tourism?
- Does religion motivate people to embark on tourism?
- Does religion have an impact on tourism and hospitality industry?
- Are there any relationship between religion tourism, and the hospitality industry?
- Does government participate in the development of religion?
1.7 Significance of Study
The significance of the study is based on the fact that if findings of the researcher s are well implemented, it will facilitate and improve the development of Religion towards tourism. It is hoped that this study would answer some questions of what impacts religion have on hospitality and tourism industry. The study will also arouse researchers investigate ways of improving Religion Tourism.
1.8 Scope of the Study
The study focuses on the contribution of religious tourism to the development of the tourism sector in Nigeria.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
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