Root Tourism: a Mixed-Methods Study of Nigerian Diasporans and Their Intention to Travel Back to Nigeria for Tourism
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Root Tourism: A Mixed-Methods Study of Nigerian Diasporans and Their Intention to Travel Back to Nigeria for Tourism by Chinyere Stephanie Acho, M.S., M.B.A. A Dissertation In Hospitality Administration Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Texas Tech University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved Dr. Barent McCool Chair of Committee Dr. Timothy Dodd Dr. Kamau Siwatu Mark Sheridan Dean of the Graduate School December, 2017 Copyright 2017, Chinyere Stephanie Acho Texas Tech University, Chinyere Stephanie Acho, December 2017 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am humbled and grateful to have the opportunity to express my gratitude to those who have helped me throughout this incredible journey. This has been an academic challenge, but I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me the strength, knowledge, wisdom, patience, ability and opportunity to undertake this research study. Lord, I love you more than anything! This study would not have been possible without the support of my chair, Dr. Barent McCool. Thank you for your diligence, love, and support as I worked under your guidance on this research study. Dr. Timothy Dodd, thank you for challenging me to finish strong! I am especially indebted to my committee member and confidant, Dr. Kamau Siwatu, who has undoubtedly been my biggest supporter from the day we met. Without your kind words, constant encouragement and ALWAYS fighting for me, I don’t know where I would be! Words cannot express my gratitude and I know that God will bless you for all of your efforts. I am also grateful to Dr. Jaehoon Lee for being an incredible professor. You helped me maneuver through the world of statistics and conquer one of my greatest academic fears. Dr. David Rivera, thank you for your support, positivity and sincere demeanor throughout this process. To my dissertation coach and angel, Dr. Laura Plybon, thank you for helping me get to the final stage of my research. Acknowledgements would be incomplete without thanking the biggest source of my strength, my family. I would like to thank my parents, Dr. & Dr. (Mrs.) Sonny & ii Texas Tech University, Chinyere Stephanie Acho, December 2017 Christie Acho for encouraging me pursue my dreams. Daddy, I am so proud to follow in your footsteps and thank you for raising me to be the dynamic, hard working woman that I am today. Mommy, thank you for being the best mom ever! I only wish to become as loving and caring as you are. You are the perfect example of how I should love God and my family before anything else. I love you both so very much. To my big sissy, Chi-Chi, thank you for being a remarkable role model and pushing me to be great! I love you dearly! To my super cool, handsome and smart NFL brothers, Sam and Emmanuel Acho, thank you for always having my back and supporting me as I grow. I love you both so much! To Ernest Mbah, also known as my husband or babe, thank you for being there for me! I love your patience, support, and unwavering love as I achieve all my crazy goals. Special thanks go to all of my sweet in-laws, nieces, and nephews for giving me something to smile about during my tired days and nights. My tribe of friends (more like family) who are the wind beneath my wings and provide unending inspiration, thank you! Prisca, you are and have been more than my best friend, you are honestly my sister! Thank you for your constant push to work harder, achieve my goals and never let me give up! I owe you so much and love you forever. To my god-baby Pey Pey, thank you for the soft hugs and wet kisses. Vivian, the Anuolam family (my second family), Ashley, Ije, Amanda, Candide, Obinna, the Atabansi family, the Asian Mint family, Umu Igbo Unite, and all of my friends who supported me along the way, thank you so much! I can’t believe I made it y’all! To God by the glory! iii Texas Tech University, Chinyere Stephanie Acho, December 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................... ii ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................. viii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................. ix I. INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................1 Background ........................................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................5 Purpose of the Study ..........................................................................................6 Research Questions ............................................................................................7 Rationale for Mixing ..........................................................................................7 Definition of Terms............................................................................................8 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ........................................................................11 Economic Impact of Tourism in Developing Countries ..................................11 Tourism in Africa .............................................................................................14 Nigeria........................................................................................................18 The Nigerian Diaspora ...............................................................................20 Root Tourism ...................................................................................................24 Nostalgia ..........................................................................................................27 Nostalgia in Tourism..................................................................................28 Theory of Planned Behavior ............................................................................31 Attitude ......................................................................................................33 Subjective Norms .......................................................................................33 Perceived Behavioral Control ....................................................................34 iv Texas Tech University, Chinyere Stephanie Acho, December 2017 III. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................36 Research Questions ..........................................................................................36 Research Design...............................................................................................37 Proposed Conceptual Framework and Hypotheses..........................................38 Pilot Study ........................................................................................................40 Phase I: Qualitative Phase ................................................................................40 Purpose and Procedure ...............................................................................40 Participants and Sampling..........................................................................41 Data Collection Methods ...........................................................................42 Validity and Reliability ..............................................................................43 Phase II: Quantatative Phase ............................................................................44 Purpose and Procedure ...............................................................................44 Participants and Sampling..........................................................................45 Data Collection Instrumentation ................................................................47 Validity and Reliability ..............................................................................53 IV. RESULTS .......................................................................................................55 Phase I: Qualitative Phase ................................................................................55 Participants .................................................................................................55 Data Analysis .............................................................................................58 Research Summary ....................................................................................58 Phase II: Quantitative Phase ............................................................................68 Instrument Development ............................................................................69 Participants .................................................................................................70 Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) ........................................................71 Testing of Assumptions for Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) ...........83 Structural Equation Modeling Analysis .....................................................90 v Texas Tech University, Chinyere Stephanie Acho, December 2017 V. DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................93 Qualitative Findings .........................................................................................93 Quantitative Findings .......................................................................................94