Anthropological Perspectives on Participation in Hospitality and Tourism: Individual, Group, and Corporate Engagements in Southwest Nigeria in the Age of Digital Connectivity

This paper investigates the anthropological dimensions of participation in Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism sector, focusing on individual, group, and corporate actors in Southwest Nigeria in the age of digital connectivity. Based on qualitative fieldwork conducted in Lagos, Ibadan, and Osogbo, the study explores how cultural identity, social networks, and institutional frameworks influence tourism engagement across urban and heritage-rich settings. Findings from interviews, focus groups, and participant observation reveal that individual participation is often driven by leisure, digital self-expression, and identity construction, particularly among urban youth. Group involvement is anchored in cultural heritage, ritual practices, and diaspora connections, while corporate actors prioritize branding, investment, and strategic partnerships. The study employs anthropological frameworks including ritual theory, authenticity, and symbolic interactionism to interpret these dynamics. The paper advocates for inclusive tourism policies that integrate indigenous knowledge systems, promote cultural sensitivity, and support community-based tourism enterprises. Recommendations include participatory planning, heritage preservation initiatives, and corporate social responsibility programs that align with local values and digital transformation goals.本研究探讨尼日利亚酒店与旅游业参与行为的人类学维度，聚焦数字互联时代下尼日利亚西南部的个体、群体与企业主体。本研究基于在拉各斯、伊巴丹与奥绍博开展的质性田野调查，针对城市与遗产富集场景，探讨文化认同、社会网络与制度框架如何影响旅游参与行为。通过访谈、焦点小组座谈与参与式观察获取的研究结果显示，个体参与旅游活动的动机通常为休闲、数字自我表达与身份建构，其中城市青年群体尤为典型。群体参与则以文化遗产、仪式实践与侨民联系为核心依托，而企业主体则将品牌塑造、投资布局与战略伙伴关系作为优先考量方向。本研究采用仪式理论、本真性（authenticity）与符号互动论（symbolic interactionism）等人类学分析框架，对上述动态过程进行阐释。本研究倡导制定包容性旅游政策，整合本土知识体系、提升文化敏感性，并扶持以社区为主体的旅游企业发展。研究建议包括推行参与式规划、开展遗产保护行动，以及制定契合本土价值观与数字转型目标的企业社会责任项目。