The Role of Government in Disaster and Crisis Management in the Hospitality Industry of Akure South Lga, Ondo State, Nigeria.

This research examines the role of government in disaster and crisis management within the hospitality industry of Akure South Local Government Area (LGA), Ondo State, Nigeria. The hospitality sector, which contributes to Nigeria’s socio-economic development, remains vulnerable to disruptions caused by natural disasters, health pandemics, economic downturns, terrorism, and cyber security threats. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of governmental policies and institutional frameworks, the impact of inter-agency collaboration, and the level of preparedness among hospitality stakeholders in responding to such crises.

Through a descriptive survey approach and stratified sampling, data was collected from 70 participants chosen from various hotels, restaurants, and tourism-related businesses. The analysis involved both descriptive and inferential statistics, including t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation, to interpret the findings. The results show that while many businesses are aware of government policies, their effectiveness varies. There are shortcomings in how these policies are implemented and unequal access to support during past crises. The study also found that cooperation among agencies is essential for recovery. The study indicates that even though the government takes steps to manage disasters and crises, these actions have little effect on the hospitality industry. This is largely because of issues like poor teamwork, inadequate training, and the absence of leaders in hospitality who are involved in planning. The research suggests that enhancing cooperation between the public and private sectors, increasing government responsiveness, and improving awareness and training programs could help make the industry more resilient.