Harnessing “Inyi” traditional festivals as a tool for cultural tourism promotion and development in Nigeria

Inyi festivals, deeply rooted in Nigeria's cultural heritage, offer a unique platform to promote cultural diversity and attract tourism. However, these festivals have not been documented and harnessed for tourism. This study explores how they can enhance cultural tourism, generate economic benefits, preserve indigenous practices, and promote national identity. Furthermore, the article identifies challenges such as infrastructure deficits, modernization, and inadequate marketing, offering strategic solutions to address these issues. By focusing on the role of government, private sector collaboration, and sustainable tourism practices, this article highlights the untapped potential of Inyi Indigenous traditional festivals to contribute to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth through cultural tourism. This was achieved through participants' observation and interviewing approaches, engaging in-depth interviews. Documented materials supplemented the primary data. Fifteen people were the participants, which comprised the chief priests, youth leaders, agnate, community presidents, and other community members. The findings indicate that Inyi traditional festivals are rich cultural heritage that have unique potentials for cultural tourism promotion and development, which in turn promote socio-economic development of the area. Key Words: Inyi Festivals, Cultural Tourism, Tourism Development, Cultural Heritage, Sustainable Tourism, Nigeria DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/67-05 Publication date: November 30 th 2024