Abstract

This study focuses on harnessing the potential of coastal tourism and the benefits associated with such development without causing harm to the environment. It will fill the gap created by previous research, as no existing studies on sustainable coastal tourism have focused on poverty alleviation and community development in the selected case study areas.

The socio-constructivist paradigm adopted in this study is concerned with social problems such as poverty alleviation and community development. This approach was supported by a qualitative mini-ethnographic case study design, which is appropriate for the current research, given the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the researcher spending less time in the field and limited access to research participants due to lockdown rules. This study used Semi-structured interviews to collect data from the participants, supported by field notes from the researcher observation during the fieldwork; the data collected was analysed using thematic analysis.

This study makes a significant contribution to knowledge by employing a unique methodological approach, a qualitative mini-ethnographic case study design. It is the first of its kind used to investigate coastal tourism and poverty alleviation in the selected case study areas of Andoni, Abonnema and Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria, and in the context of West Africa.

This approach helps to explore the social construct of life experiences of people who are experiencing hardship in their natural setting; it allows in-depth, rich and meaningful information through the voices and opinions of the local people to be heard and understand the meanings ascribed to social problems such as poverty from their own perspective.
Furthermore, the present study makes theoretical contributions with practical implications, bringing new insights into the debates and expanding the literature on sustainable coastal tourism. This study will help create a platform to build new initiatives and embrace an inclusive form of coastal tourism, using the culture and traditions of the local residents within the destination to develop Coast-Cultural Tourism (CCT).

This study found that stakeholders with political and financial power were active in tourism development activities; jobs and employment opportunities will be created to generate income for residents and revenue for the government. Therefore, implementing the findings of this research could have enormous potential to inform and guide future policies and practices in coastal tourism and the development of tourist destinations within local communities. This study will play a significant role in poverty alleviation and complement efforts to reduce the number of people experiencing economic hardship, contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and beyond.