Language visibility through the linguistic landscape represents an underexplored but important dimension of community-based tourism and sustainable rural development, particularly within the African context. This paper examines how linguistic landscapes influence community-based tourism and sustainable livelihoods in Awgu Local Government Area (LGA), Enugu State, Nigeria, assessing the relationship between language visibility, cultural heritage, and tourism development. The study employs a concurrent mixed-methods approach, using both semi-structured interviews and questionnaire surveys. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaire surveys from 384 residents across seven host communities of Awgu Local Government using a multistage sampling procedure that was based on Cochran (1977), while qualitative data were obtained based on 18 semi-structured interviews with residents and 18 elders in the community, artisans, traditional rulers and tourism officials of the host communities, complemented by photographic documentation of selected tourism sites. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis in SPSS version 28, while qualitative data were analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. The findings revealed that although host communities demonstrate strong support for tourism development with 86.2% of respondents expressing positive attitudes toward its expansion Community-based tourism was found to have a statistically significant, though modest, positive influence on perceived livelihood outcomes (β = 0.355, p < .05). The study concludes that strengthening language visibility through multilingual signage, documentation of indigenous linguistic heritage, community participation, and integrated tourism planning can promote sustainable tourism and cultural preservation. As one of the first studies to examine the language–culture–tourism nexus within a Nigerian rural context, this research extends livelihood analysis beyond conventional economic-impact approaches and provides practical recommendations for policymakers, tourism planners, and heritage managers.
Language Visibility and Community-Based Tourism: Exploring the Role of Linguistic Landscapes in Sustainable Livelihoods in Nigeria
Mba, Okechukwu Joshua
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2026
Abstract
Language visibility through the linguistic landscape represents an underexplored but important dimension of community-based tourism and sustainable rural development, particularly within the African context. This paper examines how linguistic landscapes influence community-based tourism and sustainable livelihoods in Awgu Local Government Area (LGA), Enugu State, Nigeria, assessing the relationship between language visibility, cultural heritage, and tourism development. The study employs a concurrent mixed-methods approach, using both semi-structured interviews and questionnaire surveys. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaire surveys from 384 residents across seven host communities of Awgu Local Government using a multistage sampling procedure that was based on Cochran (1977), while qualitative data were obtained based on 18 semi-structured interviews with residents and 18 elders in the community, artisans, traditional rulers and tourism officials of the host communities, complemented by photographic documentation of selected tourism sites. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis in SPSS version 28, while qualitative data were analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. The findings revealed that although host communities demonstrate strong support for tourism development with 86.2% of respondents expressing positive attitudes toward its expansion Community-based tourism was found to have a statistically significant, though modest, positive influence on perceived livelihood outcomes (β = 0.355, p < .05). The study concludes that strengthening language visibility through multilingual signage, documentation of indigenous linguistic heritage, community participation, and integrated tourism planning can promote sustainable tourism and cultural preservation. As one of the first studies to examine the language–culture–tourism nexus within a Nigerian rural context, this research extends livelihood analysis beyond conventional economic-impact approaches and provides practical recommendations for policymakers, tourism planners, and heritage managers.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
