Abstract:
Ecotourism is a major source of revenue and provides additional income for supporting livelihoods
in many countries. Understanding local communities‘ perceptions and tourists‘ attitudes are
essential for the growth, sustainable management and the development of the ecotourism industry.
In Nigeria, negative perceptions and low patronage have been reported as constraints to the
expansion of ecotourism sector. However, information on local communities‘ and tourists‘
perceptions of Ecotourism Development (ED) along the tourism corridor of Ekiti State are
currently limited. Therefore, perceptions of host communities and ecotourists towards ED in Ekiti
State, Nigeria, were investigated.
Three communities with ecotourism sites in Ekiti state: Ikogosi: Ikogosi Warm Spring (IWS),
Ipole-Iloro: Arinta Waterfall (AW) and Efon Alaaye (EA): River Ooni (RO); were purposively
selected, based on unique natural features. Proportionate to size sampling techniques was used to
select 300 residents (Ikogosi-100, Ipole-Iloro-70 and EA-130) and 100 Business Owners (BO):
Ikogosi-30, Ipole-Iloro-20 and EA-50. Also, accidental sampling technique was used to select 180
ecotourists (IWS-100, AW-45 and RO-35) that visited the ecotourism sites from 2013 to
2015.Three sets of structured questionnaires were administered on each of the three categories of
respondents. Using standard methods, fauna species in the ecotourism sites were identified. The
perception of residents, BO and ecotourists on ED Facilities (EDF): such as roads, hotels,
electricity and internet service; ecotourist-community relationship and ecotourism benefits to BO
were assessed. Variables influencing willingness to pay for ED and benefits accruable to BOs
were determined. Relative abundance was calculated. Data generated were analysed using simple
percentage, multiple linear and binary logistic regressions at α0.05.
Residents (Ikogosi: 55.0%, Ipole-Iloro: 64.3%, and EA: 65.4%) and BO (Ikogosi: 96.7%, IpoleIloro: 90.0% and EA: 68.0%) believed that EDF improved their living conditions. Ecotourists
(IWS: 60.2%, AW: 88.9% and RO: 2.8%) perceived improvements in road conditions will
enhance patronage. Ecotourists, except in RO (28.6%), (IWS: 54.1%);(AW: 66.7%) perceived that
electricity and internet services were adequate, Most ecotourists (IWS: 72.4%, AW: 97.8% and
RO: 91.4%) and residents (Ikogosi: 87.5%, Ipole-Iloro: 100.0% and EA: 100.0%) discerned that a
cordial ecotourist-community relationship existed. Most BO (Ikogosi: 63.3%, Ipole-Iloro: 60.0%
and EA: 48.0%) recognize increased benefits from ecotourism activities through improvement of
sales.Age (ß=1.18), sex (ß=1.95) and educational status (ß=4.34) significantly influenced the
amount ecotourists willing to pay. Benefits accruable to BO were significantly dependent on age
(ß=3.05), sex (ß=1.51), educational status (ß=1.74) and monthly income (ß=2.19). There were 30
fauna species: IWS-24, AW-25 and RO-1, belonging to 22 families across the three sites. Family
Scuridae had the highest occurrence in IWS (20%), AW (17%) and RO (100%), respectively.
Perception of host communities and business owners encouraged ecotourism and improved road
conditions will enhance patronage within the tourism corridor. Age, gender and educational status
of tourists are important factors that affect patronage of ecotourism along the tourism corridor of
Ekiti State, Nigeria.
