Harnessing the cultural resources for tourism development in Lango Sub-region: A case study of Apac District

Abstract

The study investigated the harnessing of cultural resources for tourism development in the Lango Sub region. Culture as a pull factor in the tourism industry and an important factor for UNESCO plays a critical role in the development of destinations. In this study a focus was on Apac district. The objective used to investigate include; to establish the existing cultural tourism resources in Apac district, to assess the feasibility of promoting Apac district for cultural tourism and to examine the strategies that can be applied to promote cultural tourism resources of Apac district. Questionnaires, interviews and documentary review were applied to collect data that was analyzed using SPSS software. The study established that Apac district has different cultural resources that include; architectures and Art, traditional dress code and food, archaeological sites and monuments, cultural events and practices and Lang traditional beliefs, ceremonies and herbal medicine. These resources are feasible enough to be developed into cultural tourism products based on their uniqueness, accessibility to major cultural resources, rich cultural and historical heritage sites in the district, hospitality of the local people and the presence of few visitors in the area. In order for these resources to be effectively developed, the study recommends sensitization and involving the community in decision making, development of a cultural center in the district, carrying out research, policy restructuring and increased budget allocation, development of infrastructures in the district and the development of marketing strategies.