Analysis of the Contribution of Religious Tourism to the Economy of Ile-Ife, Osun State, South West Nigeria

This study analyses the economic contribution of religious tourism to the local economy of Ile-Ife, the spiritual heartland of the Yoruba people in Osun State, South West Nigeria. Ile-Ife attracts pilgrims and religious tourists from across Nigeria and the diaspora who visit sacred Yoruba shrines, the Ooni's palace, and annual religious festivals. A descriptive research design is adopted with questionnaires administered to 150 religious tourists, 30 accommodation providers, and 40 local traders during festival and non-festival periods. Economic impact indicators assessed include tourist expenditure on accommodation, food, souvenirs, transport, and religious materials, as well as multiplier effects in local supply chains. Findings reveal that religious tourists spend an average of 28,000 naira per visit on direct tourism services, with aggregate economic impact peaking substantially during pilgrimage seasons. Hotel occupancy in Ile-Ife rises by an average of 55 percentage points during major festivals. However, economic leakage is noted, with approximately 40 percent of tourist expenditure benefiting suppliers based outside Ile-Ife. The study recommends investment in local artisan product development, improved packaging of Yoruba cultural experiences as complementary tourism offerings, and targeted domestic marketing to diaspora communities. Revenue from religious tourism should be partially reinvested in heritage site maintenance. Keywords: religious tourism, Yoruba heritage, economic impact, Ile-Ife, cultural tourism