The role of government in driving human capital development in the tourism industry in Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to offer an opportunity to reflect on government-led initiatives for addressing human capital development (HCD) in Cross River State (CRS), the widely acknowledged number one tourism destination in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive case study of the CRS government’s initiative to build and consolidate the human capital base for an emerging tourism destination is presented. Findings The findings show that HCD initiatives emerged as a result of a public–private collaboration between CRS and the Citizens Development Corps (CDC). Originality/value Using a real-life example, this paper demonstrates how the government in an emerging nation can initiate positive policies to advance HCD in tourism.