Cultural Tourism Development through Route Design: Assessing Opportunities and Challenges in the FCT, Abuja

Cultural tourism has emerged as a significant driver of destination competitiveness, particularly in regions with rich heritage resources. Despite Abuja’s status as Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory and its diverse cultural assets, its tourism offerings remain underutilized due to the absence of structured cultural routes that could enhance accessibility, visitor experience, and sustainable development. This study examines the opportunities and challenges of developing cultural tourism through route design in Abuja. Adopting a mixed-method approach, data were collected from tourists, cultural site managers, and tourism stakeholders using surveys, interviews, and secondary records. Findings reveal substantial opportunities for cultural route development, including Abuja’s central geographical location, diverse cultural festivals, heritage monuments, and stakeholder interest in promoting cultural tourism. However, key challenges such as poor infrastructure, inadequate signage, insecurity, weak institutional frameworks, and limited marketing undermine the potential of cultural tourism in the city. The study proposes thematic cultural routes—including heritage, arts and crafts, and religious-cultural circuits—that could strategically connect Abuja’s cultural assets. The findings contribute to the literature on route-based tourism planning and provide practical insights for policymakers and destination managers seeking to diversify Abuja’s tourism economy. The study recommends targeted infrastructure investment, stakeholder collaboration, and digital promotion strategies to position Abuja as a vibrant cultural tourism hub.