HOSPITALITY SERVICE READINESS AND VISITOR EXPERIENCE AT THE CALABAR CARNIVAL, NIGERIA 79 12
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.83374/jesber.vol1no2.118Keywords:
hospitality services, visitor experience, festival tourism, service readiness, destination management, Calabar SouthAbstract
Festivals generate destination value only when visitors can access dependable hospitality services before, during and after the event. This study assessed hospitality readiness and visitor-experience outcomes associated with the Calabar Carnival in Nigeria. It used a secondary descriptive analysis of an archived survey involving 400 purposively selected festival participants and stakeholders within the Calabar festival environment. Aggregate frequencies were reorganised around destination demand, tourism-oriented business effects, infrastructure, government support, environmental awareness, satisfaction, recommendation and future attendance. The results showed that 65.0% perceived at least a slight increase in tourist influx, but only 47.5% identified increased business activity or job opportunities as the principal economic benefit. Infrastructure challenges were significant or moderate for 47.5%, local-government support was rated ineffective by 52.5%, and 80.0% reported limited or absent tourist environmental awareness. Overall dissatisfaction reached 42.5%; nevertheless, 62.5% were at least somewhat likely to recommend the carnival and 70.0% remained definite or potential future attendees. These results indicate demand potential without commensurate destination-service readiness. The study concludes that accommodation coordination, transport information, sanitation, customer-care training, local sourcing, environmental communication and service monitoring should be integrated into Calabar Carnival planning.Downloads
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