PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN TOURISM CORRIDOR OF EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

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.