Abstract
The paper examined the effects of fuel subsidy removal on tourism industry in Idah, Kogi State,
Nigeria. The study adopted Kobo Collect to elicit data from the participants, quantitative and
qualitative approach. The study used multi-stage sampling technique to select eighty-five (85)
participants, descriptive statistics mean, variance and standard deviation were used to analyze the
quantitative data. Result revealed that a very strong agreement that one of the major and
immediate effects of fuel subsidy removal is the surge in transportation costs. Both for tourists
participating in leisure activities (Mean = 4.76, Variance = 0.349, Std. Dev. = 0.591) and for the
operational logistics of tourist facilities within Idah. It also revealed that finance (Mean = 4.75,
Variance =0.188, Std. Dev. = 0.434) and a low level of income (Mean = 4.73, Variance = 0.224,
Std. Dev. = 0.473) are perceived as the foremost challenges impacting tourism participation. The
study further shows that the fuel subsidy removal has introduced a challenging environment for
Idah's tourism sector. The escalating costs of transportation and hospitality, coupled with the
resultant squeeze on individual incomes, have collectively led to a noticeable downturn in tourist
participation and patronage. The study recommends that strategic interventions that consider both
the economic realities faced by potential visitors and the operational pressures confronting
tourism businesses in Idah, Kogi State.