Study of Hotel Development and Urban Growth in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria

This study examines the relationship between hotel development and urban growth in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria. Uyo has experienced rapid urban expansion in recent years, fuelled by oil and gas sector activity, government investment, and the hosting of national events. Hotel development has been a prominent feature of this growth, and understanding its urban economic and spatial implications is important for planning and policy purposes. A mixed-method research design is adopted with secondary data sourced from Akwa Ibom State Investment Corporation records and the Urban Development Board, supplemented by structured interviews with 12 hotel developers, investors, and urban planning officials. Dimensions assessed include spatial distribution of new hotel developments, their contribution to urban land use dynamics, employment multiplier effects, and the alignment of hotel development patterns with state urban development plans. Findings reveal a significant concentration of hotel development in the Government Reserved Area of Uyo, creating spatial imbalance in tourism economic benefits. The sector has generated an estimated 4,200 direct and indirect jobs since 2018. However, speculative hotel development in some areas has outpaced demand, resulting in below-benchmark occupancy rates. The study recommends integrated urban tourism development planning, incentivised hotel development in underserved Uyo neighbourhoods, and a state-level hotel development feasibility support programme. Keywords: hotel development, urban growth, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, hospitality investment