Role of Community Participation in Heritage Tourism Management in Argungu, Kebbi State, North West Nigeria

This study investigates the role of community participation in heritage tourism management at the Argungu Fishing Festival in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. The festival draws visitors from across Nigeria and internationally, representing a vital intersection of cultural heritage, community identity, and tourism economics. The study adopts a descriptive survey design with 160 respondents drawn from local community leaders, fishermen, tourism operators, and festival visitors. Data are collected using structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Findings reveal that while community members express strong cultural ownership of the festival, formal participation in tourism planning and decision-making is limited. Only 38 percent of community stakeholders report being consulted in festival management decisions. Revenue sharing arrangements are perceived as inequitable by 66 percent of local participants. The study identifies top-down governance, lack of organised community tourism associations, and limited capacity building as key barriers to meaningful participation. It recommends the establishment of a community-led festival management committee with designated representation in state-level tourism governance, transparent revenue distribution frameworks, and targeted training for local residents in tour guiding, hospitality, and heritage interpretation. These measures are expected to strengthen community stakes in the festival's sustainability and long-term economic benefits. Keywords: community participation, heritage tourism, Argungu, Kebbi State, cultural festival management