WASTE REDUCTION AND WATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AS CORRELATES OF JOB CREATION IN CROSS RIVER AND AKWA IBOM STATES, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Sustainable tourism, job creation, waste reduction, water management and sustainable developmentAbstract
This study examined Waste Reduction and Water Management Practices as Correlates of Job Creation in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, Nigeria. with particular emphasis on waste reduction practices and water management activities. The study was anchored on Sustainable Development Theory. The paper adopts quantitative survey design. The study covered selected tourism development zones in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, with a sample of 800 tourism stakeholders selected through a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, which demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87), and analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The findings revealed a moderately strong, statistically significant positive relationship between waste reduction practices and job creation (r = .642, p < .001, matching Table 1). Similarly, water management activities exhibited a strong, statistically significant positive relationship with job creation (r = .612, p < .001, matching Table 2). The study concludes that environmentally sustainable tourism practices can serve as important mechanisms for expanding employment opportunities and improving local livelihoods. It recommends institutionalized waste management systems, recycling initiatives, public-private partnerships, skills development, and inclusive water management policies that prioritize residents in tourism-related employment opportunities.
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