A STUDY OF CULTURAL PRACTICES IN UKPOR COMMUNITY NNEWI SOUTH L.G.A ANAMBRA STATE

ABSTRACT The tourism sector is seen as the major instrument for the socioeconomic development of any nation. However, a handful of tourist centers and attractions have not well developed in actualizing the goal of tourism development and to prevent such is by putting maximum effort into the growth of tourism. This paper, therefore, tries to identify the current cultural and natural heritage of the Ukpor people and examine the potentials of this cultural heritage for tourism development that would positively affect the host community, state government and country as a whole and the best ways to harness them. It goes further to recognize the impacts which the potentials would have on them and ascertain the different measures that would guarantee their preservation continually. The researcher extracted information using a qualitative method as well as secondary sources from the library and internet materials. The finding revealed that the Ukpor people have a lot of ancient practices and cultural sites which have potential and need joint efforts of the stakeholders to keep them alive. The paper argued that the cultural heritage needs to be conserved and maintained for a vibrant, healthy cultural and natural environment which will develop and promote using tourism as an avenue to achieve that in Ukpor, Nnewi south of Anambra state. Keywords: Culture, tourism, development, masquerade Religion, festival