Abstract
The tourism industry is one with many sub-sectors and according to world tourism organization, is the
2nd highest employer of labour after agriculture. Tourism in Nsukka and elsewhere is growing rapidly
and we all appreciate its growth and benefit from its multiple effect on the economy, transport,
accommodation, national identity and pride. Much of this growth in the tourism industry is pushed by
the skills and services of many TVET practitioners whose efforts have directly and indirectly helped
drive the industry to its current global acclaim. However, this category of stakeholders in the tourism
industry has been relatively understudied and their roles and contributions to the growth of the tourism
industry have been grossly misrepresented or utterly underreported. It is the aim of this paper to
assess the roles and contributions of TVET practitioners and their activities to the growth of the
tourism industry through the prism of the Nsukka metropolis in Enugu State. To achieve this, a mixed
method approach of quantitative and qualitative research methods was employed to gather and
analyse data from TVET practitioners, tourists and tourism establishments within the study area. This
paper properly documented the contributions of TVET practitioners to the growth of the tourism
industry and suggested what can be done to properly build and harness the synergy between TVET
practitioners and other players in the tourism industry, as this will yield more opportunities and
benefits for both sides.
Keywords: TVET, TVET Practitioners, Tourism industry, and Tourism development
Publication Date: 2018-12-06