Government Policy and the Osun Festival: Impact on Cultural Preservation and Tourism

Government policies have significantly enhanced the preservation and tourism potential of the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, as demonstrated by improved conservation outcomes, increased tourist inflows, and global visibility following UNESCO inscription. However, challenges such as commercialization of sacred rituals, environmental strain on the grove, and governance tensions persist. The study highlights that while state involvement is crucial for heritage safeguarding and tourism growth, long-term sustainability requires participatory governance frameworks, heritage-sensitive tourism planning, and sustained conservation funding. Using a mixed-methods case study approach, researchers analyzed policy documents, UNESCO reports, tourism statistics, and qualitative data from custodians and stakeholders to assess the impact of federal and state interventions on cultural sustainability, community participation, and local livelihoods.

ADETOYESE, E., & OLATUNJI, M. (2026). GOVERNMENT POLICY AND THE OSUN FESTIVAL: IMPACT ON CULTURAL PRESERVATION AND TOURISM. KWARARAFA Security Review, 3(4), 62–66. https://doi.org/10.64633/ksr.v3.i4.05