The Role of Small and Medium Enterprises in Driving Sustainable Tourism Development in Nigeria: A Case Study of Lagos State
(2024) SMMM40 20241Department of Service Studies
- Abstract
- The global tourism industry faces significant sustainability challenges, with environmental degradation and social inequities threatening its long-term viability. This is particularly critical for developing urban centres like Lagos, Nigeria, where rapid tourism growth has intensified environmental and social pressures. This thesis aimed to gain a better understanding of the role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in driving sustainable tourism development in Nigeria and the hindrances they encounter in doing so. To achieve this aim, a research framework based on the principles of Institutional Theory and Stakeholder Theory was developed. Semi-structured interviews were utilised as a data collection method to gather insights from SME... (More)
- The global tourism industry faces significant sustainability challenges, with environmental degradation and social inequities threatening its long-term viability. This is particularly critical for developing urban centres like Lagos, Nigeria, where rapid tourism growth has intensified environmental and social pressures. This thesis aimed to gain a better understanding of the role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in driving sustainable tourism development in Nigeria and the hindrances they encounter in doing so. To achieve this aim, a research framework based on the principles of Institutional Theory and Stakeholder Theory was developed. Semi-structured interviews were utilised as a data collection method to gather insights from SME representatives engaged in tourism-related activities and relevant stakeholders in Lagos tourism industry. 10 participants were interviewed via Zoom and Google Meet, involving SME representatives, NGOs and government agencies.
The research revealed that while there is a growing awareness of sustainable tourism among SMEs in Lagos, their focus is primarily on economic viability, at the expense of social and environmental sustainability due to weak institutional pressures. It was also discovered that collaborative efforts between SMEs and relevant stakeholders in Lagos tourism industry are largely informal and focused on operational issues (such as service improvement, business permits, and tax compliance), rather than aligning with broader sustainability goals. Challenges in implementing sustainable practices in Lagos tourism industry include economic pressures, resource constraints, insufficient awareness, bureaucratic hurdles and reluctance to share resources, which compel SMEs to prioritise short-term survival over long-term sustainability. The study concludes that there is an urgent need for targeted educational programs, financial support, more inclusive stakeholder engagement, and transparent communication from government bodies to help SMEs in Lagos understand the broader implications and benefits of sustainable tourism, beyond short-term economic gains. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9175044
- author
- Akinmusuyi, Akintunde LU and Nnonyelu, Ifesinachi LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SMMM40 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Institutional theory, Lagos State, SMEs, sustainable tourism, Stakeholder theory, tourism industry
- language
- English
- id
- 9175044
- date added to LUP
- 2024-09-20 13:26:49
- date last changed
- 2024-09-20 13:26:49
@misc{9175044,
abstract = {{The global tourism industry faces significant sustainability challenges, with environmental degradation and social inequities threatening its long-term viability. This is particularly critical for developing urban centres like Lagos, Nigeria, where rapid tourism growth has intensified environmental and social pressures. This thesis aimed to gain a better understanding of the role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in driving sustainable tourism development in Nigeria and the hindrances they encounter in doing so. To achieve this aim, a research framework based on the principles of Institutional Theory and Stakeholder Theory was developed. Semi-structured interviews were utilised as a data collection method to gather insights from SME representatives engaged in tourism-related activities and relevant stakeholders in Lagos tourism industry. 10 participants were interviewed via Zoom and Google Meet, involving SME representatives, NGOs and government agencies.
The research revealed that while there is a growing awareness of sustainable tourism among SMEs in Lagos, their focus is primarily on economic viability, at the expense of social and environmental sustainability due to weak institutional pressures. It was also discovered that collaborative efforts between SMEs and relevant stakeholders in Lagos tourism industry are largely informal and focused on operational issues (such as service improvement, business permits, and tax compliance), rather than aligning with broader sustainability goals. Challenges in implementing sustainable practices in Lagos tourism industry include economic pressures, resource constraints, insufficient awareness, bureaucratic hurdles and reluctance to share resources, which compel SMEs to prioritise short-term survival over long-term sustainability. The study concludes that there is an urgent need for targeted educational programs, financial support, more inclusive stakeholder engagement, and transparent communication from government bodies to help SMEs in Lagos understand the broader implications and benefits of sustainable tourism, beyond short-term economic gains.}},
author = {{Akinmusuyi, Akintunde and Nnonyelu, Ifesinachi}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{The Role of Small and Medium Enterprises in Driving Sustainable Tourism Development in Nigeria: A Case Study of Lagos State}},
year = {{2024}},
}