PRESERVATION OF NATIONAL HERITAGE FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: EVIDENCE FROM LEKKI CONSERVATIVE CENTRE IN LAGOS STATE

Abstract

Several tourism organizations in Nigeria do not see the need to engage in preservation of national heritage through tourism. The main objective is to analyse how national heritages are being preserved for tourism development focusing on LCC in Lagos State. Two sets of data used were primary data collected through sampled respondents; and quantitative data of Nigerian cultural heritage sourced from anthropological, historical and archeaological facts/artifacts; and pattern of presentation was descriptive. Exploratory research design was used. Two hypotheses were tested using Kruskal Walis and Regression Model respectively. Findings show that tourism organizations play vital role in national heritage preservation through creative tourism activities of international standard. The study recommended that tourism organizations should consider heritage preservation as part of their corporate social responsibilities as national heritage assets are rapidly depleting coupled with previous looting by Western culture. Tourism organizations were also persuaded to promote strategies that can enhance preservation of national heritage through creative activities for development.