An Empirical Investigation of the Effect of Tourism on Poverty Reduction in Rural Communities in Niger State, North Central Nigeria

This study empirically investigates the effect of tourism development on poverty reduction in rural communities in Niger State, North Central Nigeria, with a focus on communities proximate to Gurara Falls, Zuma Rock, and Shiroro Lake. Pro-poor tourism frameworks argue that tourism can generate income among the poorest segments of host communities through direct employment, vendor activity, and supply chain participation, yet evidence from rural Nigeria remains limited. A mixed-method research design is adopted combining a household income survey of 200 community residents with qualitative focus group discussions among local traders, guides, and artisans engaged in tourism. Difference-in-difference estimation is used to compare income levels in tourism-active communities against matched control communities without significant tourism activity. Findings reveal that households in tourism-adjacent communities report average incomes 23 percent higher than matched non-tourism community households, with vendor and guide activities being the primary income channels. However, the distribution of tourism income gains is found to be highly unequal, with established traders capturing a disproportionate share relative to marginalised community members. Women and youth remain significantly underrepresented in tourism income pathways. The study recommends targeted pro-poor tourism product development, structured enterprise support for marginalised community groups, and equitable tourism revenue distribution governance mechanisms. Keywords: pro-poor tourism, poverty reduction, rural communities, Niger State, income distribution