This paper is about how the media in Nigeria can initiate a sense of departure to tourism sites through its movies/television programs. A major trend in tourism, this decade is the move away from the appreciation of the traditional elements of the practice-sight scenery, good weather and acquisition of luxury items –towards urban heritage –based, short –break, tourism emphasizing culture as products. The notion of departure or exit is in part initiated and constructed by a multiplicity of media, most importantly the film and television industries and packaged as advertisement.
The entrepreneurs or developers of the media even in developing countries, perceive the countryside, specifically, not as a natural living environment of limited socio-economic value, but as a commodity that can be packaged and sold for a price to viewers. That is, the rural localities, locally and internationally have become popular contexts for a myriad of television serials or the setting of films and videos. The images the media foster are beamed into the homes of many people and succeed in constraining the audience to enjoy an experience of the great outdoors in the comfort and safety of the idyllic places.
In other words, the viewers may be moved to go in search of the locations used anticipating the findings of what they saw on their screens and may be encountering the very role players in the presentations. Films and movies may and actually in certain circumstances serve to generate interests in locations used, especially when the setting involves attractive countryside and captivating cultural practices of the people. The films, therefore, have become of great interest to the public because they package specific cultures of the idyllic lifestyles and promote market values that can generate huge incomes.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Tourism and the Media
The Act of Tourism and Culture of Film Production in Nigeria
Site of production
Distribution
Marketing
Relations of production
The relationship between film location and tourism
Methodology
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This study explores the vital intersection between film production in Nigeria (Nollywood) and the development of tourism, investigating how media-constructed imagery can serve as a catalyst for "a sense of departure" among potential travelers.
- The role of the media in shaping destination image and tourism promotion.
- Cultural representation and the branding of Nigerian society through film.
- Challenges in the Nollywood production cycle, including infrastructure and funding.
- The link between film locations, cultural products, and tourist motivation.
Excerpt from the Book
The Act of Tourism and Culture of Film Production in Nigeria
Film production in Nigeria, and anywhere else in the world is influenced by a lot of variables. These variables determine the kind of culture that eventually emerges to define the peculiar film production in that society. Some of these variables are factors of production, means of production, site of production, mode of distribution or marketing and relations of production. This paper pursues the issue of tourism in Nigeria from the examination of these variables and their interconnectivity in film production.
Highly central to the discussion is the sense of departure, and in those wise the motivation provided by image, construction of image that is the sum perceptual beliefs, ideas and impressions, based on information processing from a verity construct (White 2004, Mackay and Fesenmaiser, 1997, Gastner 1993). The individual’s perception of departure is usually linked to a destination image, where something is happening or can happen, and is influenced by external factors of information dissemination such as the television radio, newspaper, personal communication etc.
In the process of crystallizing a destination image, these information sources come together in an organized framework, within the individual, and are rationalized and evaluated in order to create a value for and interest in the place being proposed to be visited. From the information gathered from information in interviews and focused group discussion, several factors combine to synthesis Hollywood’s image, as a destination site. The economy of the nation is one of such factors. For instance Sammy, one of my informants, stated that, “to shoot a standard film one needs about 11.5 million Naira”. This figure is at 2008 but right now it is close to 30 to 40 million Naira.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of the shifting trends in tourism toward urban-based, culture-focused experiences initiated by media representation.
Tourism and the Media: Analyzes the theoretical interconnection between media consumption and tourism development, citing global examples like Australia and Scotland.
The Act of Tourism and Culture of Film Production in Nigeria: Examines the internal factors of production in Nollywood and their impact on constructing a national image for tourism.
The relationship between film location and tourism: Investigates the influence of filming locations on viewer interest and the difficulties of sourcing and developing sites in Nigeria.
Methodology: Describes the qualitative and ethnographic approach taken during the research, including informant interviews and film analysis.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, presenting a conceptual framework for how Nollywood can bridge the gap between media storytelling and tourism development.
Keywords
Tourism, Media, Film and Television Industry, Nollywood, Sense of departure, Image Making, Cultural Products, Destination Image, Film Locations, Nigerian Society, Branding, Ethnography, Socio-economic Value, Production Culture, Tourism Marketing
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
This paper explores the relationship between the Nigerian film industry, known as Nollywood, and the development of tourism in Nigeria, specifically how films can be used to promote travel.
What are the central thematic fields?
The work covers media studies, tourism development, cultural representation, organizational processes in filmmaking, and the socio-economic impacts of film location branding.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to understand how Nollywood can move beyond entertainment to act as a tool for creating a "sense of departure," thereby enhancing the attractiveness of Nigerian tourism sites.
What research methods were employed?
The research utilized qualitative and ethnographic methods, including interviews with industry informants, focused group discussions, and a critical analysis of specific Nigerian films.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The main body examines factors of production, site selection, distribution models, marketing efforts, and the challenges of infrastructure and funding within the Nigerian film industry.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The core concepts include Nollywood, image making, tourism development, destination branding, and cultural representation.
How does Nollywood currently influence tourism perception?
The author argues that while Nollywood is a powerful information source, its current portrayal of Nigeria often focuses on negative or stereotypical images, which may hinder positive tourism development.
What is the "Outlander effect" referred to in the text?
The author uses the example of the show "Outlander" in Scotland to demonstrate how a film production can significantly increase visitor numbers to specific heritage and filming locations.
Why is the "sense of departure" important?
It represents the mental state required for tourists to feel motivated to leave their routine lives and visit a destination, a feeling often triggered by compelling media imagery.
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- Chinwe Chimezie Uwaoma (Autor:in), 2008, Film Production and Tourism Development in Nigeria. An Analysis of the Impact of Media on Tourism, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/990208
