CONFERENCES

 Tourism and the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technologies in Emerging Economies

Chigozie Jude ODUM

Department of Tourism Studies

Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Email: odumcj@yahoo.co.uk

A paper presented at the 6th International Cappadocia Scientific Research Congress

August 10-12, 2024 Göreme/Türkiye

Abstract

The fourth industrial revolution (I4.0) comes with disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, augmented reality (AR), advanced robotics, and cyber-security, among others. The I4.0 ensures quick, easy, and instant responses and computation of data, removes physical barriers, and within the tourism sector; it has introduced social and self-serving robots, intelligent Chatbots, contactless devices, sound-controlled technologies, etc. In developed economies like China, the United States of America, and Japan, to mention but few, there are establishments such as hotels fully staffed with robots, and robots are used for smart concierge services, and I4.0 is reputed to have more working power than humans. The fourth dimension of industrial revolution technologies like AR and virtual reality (VR) gives visitors a three-dimensional view of destinations and hotels of their choice, providing an opportunity for a preview before booking. Meanwhile, some technologies (i.e. AR, VR, AI) are persuasive marketing tools. Conversely, beyond the associated benefits of I4.0, it appears some countries lack the infrastructure, financial capacity, and interest to adapt to I4.0, especially emerging economies like Nigeria. Literature has already portrayed that studies on I4.0 are limited in emerging economies, while Nigeria has been ranked low by Oxford Insight’s 2020, where governments of different countries were assessed for readiness to adopt AI. Nigeria ranked 138 out of 172 countries. If this is extrapolated, it might imply that Nigeria is not matching up with the I4.0 revolution, despite its usefulness and application in different sectors globally. Therefore, the present study is anchored on the tourism and hospitality sector, understanding the pros and cons of I4.0 technologies vis-à-vis Nigeria's tourism sector. Nigeria is endowed with an innumerable hospitality establishment of different sizes, classes, and brands, ranging from one-star to five-star hotels in different cities and towns. The country is host to two world heritage sites located in Osun and Adamawa States, and seven (7) national parks with alluring and flourishing flora and fauna, including endemic species. Unique geological landscapes, with one being of international interest and national recognition located in Anambra State; different rivers, lakes, and streams harboring several aquatic species of crocodiles, alligators, hippopotami, and turtles, etc., some of which are totemic, and enriching the cultural tourism value of Nigeria. Although, the tourism hospitality sector of Nigeria offers a lot of job opportunities for skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled laborers; tourism is said to add 2.6 million jobs by 2032. Nigeria is grappling with unemployment, which increased in the third quarter of 2023 to about 5%, based on the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Therefore, will the use of I4.0 technologies add value to unemployment or employment in the Nigerian tourism sector, given that technologies like ‘intelligent robots’ and 'service robots’ are replacing human labor? How will the Nigerian tourism stakeholders mitigate the impact of I4.0, given the limited knowledge of I4.0 technologies in the industry? These and other questions are the hallmarks of this study. The study will adopt a qualitative approach and a thematic presentation of findings. The contributions of this study to scholarship cannot be overemphasized, as preliminary investigations highlight the unprecedented loss of jobs; where tourism has been taunted to be a big employer of labor. Besides, destinations and hospitality managers see I4.0 technologies as a means of increasing sales, retaining customers, and reducing overhead cost of labor employment, therefore, will they adopt it or not? Fourth revolution technologies seem to be the future, although, for sustainable development of tourism in the global south, especially Nigeria, there is a need for proper exploration of the technologies, weighing their benefits and disadvantages. The study seems to be novel, probably the first or among the first studies discussing disruptive technology-I4.0 and the Nigerian tourism industry, its value to tourism stakeholders cannot be overemphasized

 

Introduction-

¨  In the 4th industrial revolution (I4.0), technologies move labor from man to machine.

¨  AI (artificial intelligence) helps machines and robots take over labor. This is currently common in developed nations.

¨  Tourism and hospitality managers are interested in I4.0 technologies because of reductions in labor costs, speed, and automation, among others.

¨  Conversely, I4.0 technologies reduce human labor, and the Nigerian unemployment rate moved from 4.2% to 5%.

Objectives - The study looks at some factors that may be considered prior to adoption of some of 4IR technologies in Nigeria tourism sector.

¨  Labor costs and support employees—physical

¨  Powers beyond humans 

¨  Cost implications

¨  Staff training and loss of jobs: ….and likelihood of job loss.

¨  Customers’ perspective and improved marketing.

Preliminary Discussion-

The sector rakes in millions of dollars per year. In Nigeria, it contributes about 4.8% to the country’s total national output (GDP). While….affected the sector negatively in Nigeria (Odum, 2022), alternatively, it also enhanced the adoption of I4.0 technologies in the tourism and hospitality sectors. The sector was enjoyed virtually during the pandemic through virtual reality (VR).

USA and Japan are using I4.0 technologies, but there is disparity in their use in West Africa…while Nigeria seems to be unready for adoption of I4.0 technologies like AI and VR, despite their inherent benefits that seem to outweigh the negative implications.

The Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), and other stakeholders need collaboration to find out the empirical impact(s) of the adoption of these technologies.

These technologies may not outright create job losses; rather, there is a possibility of complementing existing jobs.

Selected References

Ajayi, V. O. (2023). A Review of Primary Sources of Data and Secondary Sources of Data. European Journal of Education and Pedagogy 2(3)1-7.

Hodibert, V.A., et al. (2024). AI/Robotics in the tourism and hospitality sector: Technological realities and imaginaries in the Ghana context. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) 8(1)2454-6186.

Odum, C. J. (2022). Innovation in Tourism Industry: Insight from Nigeria. Ahi Evran International Conference on Scientific Research, Türkiye.

Odum, C. J. & Ukekwe, C. (2020). Tourism and Virtual Reality (VR) in Developing Nations. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure, 9(2)1-16.

Ogunleye, I. (2021). Artificial Intelligence for Economic Development in Nigeria. A publication of Citris Banatao Institute.