Ecotourism & Wildlife Management

PERCEPTION ON THE USAGE OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN SELECTED ECO-DESTINATIONS IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

PERCEPTION ON THE USAGE OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN SELECTED ECO-DESTINATIONS IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA OYEBODE, ADEGBOYEGA Information Communication Technology has become important to the development and growth of modern tourism. This study explored and assessed the perception on the usage of Information Communication Technology (ICT) at Old Oyo National Park, Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort and Lacampagne Tropicana through administration of structured questionnaire directed at 384 tourists randomly selected and questionnaire was also given to fifty percent of the total members of administrative staff purposively at the sites. Data was analyzed and presented descriptively in tables and figures; and inferentially using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA), binary logistic regression and Pearson correlation. Results indicated that majority of the staff at Old Oyo National Park (82.9%), Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort (95%) and Lacampagne Tropicana (88.9%) were knowledgeable about the use of information and communication technology especially on the use of internet and social media. The staff were also a little competent with the use of Information and Communication Technology in Old Oyo National Park (45.7%), Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort (50%) and Lacampagne Tropicana staff (44.4%). However, 71% of the tourists at Ikogosi Warm Spring are not aware of the existence of ICT at the site, while majority of the tourist at Old Oyo National Park (100%) and Lacampagne Tropicana (70%) are aware of the existence of ICT at the sites. Data also indicated that social media has high level of usage in Old Oyo National Park (50%), Ikogosi Warm Spring (20%) and Lacanpagne Tropicana (42%). The tourists also perceived that the use of Information Communication Technology would be an innovative approach to solving some of the problems of sustainable tourism development and that use of Information Communication Technology has made work easier and faster. Furthermore, the sociodemographic characteristics of the staff has a significant relationship with their knowledge on the existence of Information Communication Technology at the sites (p<0.05). The tourists however opined that cyber insecurity, outdated Information Communication Technology, unreliable out sourcing personnel as well as unskilled labour are the major factors affecting the usage of Information Communication Technology at the three sites. This study concludes that the staff are knowledgeable about Information Communication application at the sites with social media and internet reported to have the highest usage although the staff have a low competence with the use of these ICT applications. Management of ecotourism sites should therefore create more awareness on the usage of other forms of information communication technology at their sites so as to further enhance tourists’ satisfaction Ph.D THESIS

ASSESSMENT OF THE LEVEL OF UTILIZATION OF RECREATIONAL POTENTIALS OF OLD OYO AND OKOMU NATIONAL PARKS, NIGERIA

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

ASSESSMENT OF THE LEVEL OF UTILIZATION OF RECREATIONAL POTENTIALS OF OLD OYO AND OKOMU NATIONAL PARKS, NIGERIA OKAFOR, FRANCIS AMAECHI The study was conducted to determine the level of utilization of recreational potentials of Old Oyo and Okomu National Parks, Nigeria. The sample size for the staff and tourists was 352 comprising 218 tourists and 134 staff. Data were obtained using direct field observations, in-depth interview, focus group discussions and questionnaires. Data were analyzed and presented descriptively while the hypothesis were tested using Independent t-test, one way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple linear regression. Findings showed that tourism and recreational features are a mix of natural, historical, cultural and manmade features. Also, Old Oyo National Park has a holding capacity of 96. At Okomu National Park, the holding capacity has a value of 91. Visitors influx to both national parks revealed that a total number of 18,515 visitors have visited Old Oyo National Park from 1997 to 2017 while a total number of 10,394 visitors have visited Okomu National Park from 2003 to 2017. The tourists were aware of recreational potentials of both parks and their level of awareness revealed they were moderately aware. The study further revealed that the highest mean on tourists’ perception of Old Oyo National Park was 3.84 for ‘No Ambulance”. Also identified at Okomu, lack of network service had the highest mean value of 4.07. Also revealed on the tourist satisfaction with the destination facilities indicating that tourists were most satisfied with bar in Oyo and least satisfied with volleyball court. Insecurity, in the country as well as other factors such as bad access road, lack of functional gymnasium equipment were identified as major factors affecting visitation to destination sites. Hypotheses tested revealed that there is no significant difference in the extent of utilization of recreational potentials between the Parks (P>0.05). Also, there is a significant relationship between Membership of NGOs, Frequency of visits, days spent at the sites and the tourists’ utilization of park potentials (P<0.05). Furthermore, tourists’ perception and perceived service quality are significantly different between the parks (P<0.05). It was also concluded that many recreation activities such as park viewing, visit to the ruins at Oyo-ile, in door game/swimming pool, visit to the tree house, hanging bridge and sport fishing were among the attractions tourist appreciated while in the park. It was recommended that as the parks cannot sustain themselves financially due to low revenue generation from ecotourism activities, management of both parks should seek grants, donors or public private partnership (PPP) also re-introduction of souvenir, erection of bill boards across the country with sustain awareness creation through radio/television and conservation education programmes for the two Parks. M.AGRIC THESIS

ASSESSMENT OF SUSTAINABLE GREEN PRACTICES IN SELECTED HOTELS AT TOURISM DESTINATIONS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

ASSESSMENT OF SUSTAINABLE GREEN PRACTICES IN SELECTED HOTELS AT TOURISM DESTINATIONS IN ONDO STATE, NIGERIA ADEGBOLA, ADEWALE SOLOMON Sustainability is a global demand in all phases of human daily needs. These very important activities including hotel facilities and services require a sustainable approach to achieve a friendly and sustainable environment. This study assessed the sustainable green practices in hotels with a view of increasing the awareness of hotel managers and visitors on green practices for sustainable hotel facilities and tourism development. Data for this study were collected using structured questionnaires administered using purposive sampling. Twenty hotels were selected for this study and each hotel manager was administered a questionnaire each. At each hotel also, 10 guests were randomly selected for the study hence a total of 220 for 20 selected hotels (20 questionnaires for manager and 200 questionnaires guests) were administered in this study. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Identifying the existing green features and practice in the selected hotels shows that all the hotels were using generators as energy sources and bore-holes for water sources. Restaurant in the hotel selected releases solid and liquid waste (biodegradable and nonbiodegradable) and 75% of the selected hotels had natural fixtures/eco-features (trees, rocks, wet-land, and other natural habitat for wildlife) and all the hotels has 100% portion of concrete flooring type. Perceived factors militating against the establishment and adoption of sustainable green practices in their hotels by hotel managers shows that; Installation cost of green facilities, deficient awareness, difficulties in regulation or policy and green certification of the hotel, training and retraining of the staff and guest on how to handle some green facilities in the hotel. The assessment of the guests awareness of sustainable green practices in the selected hotels showed that energy saving bulbs mean = (2.90) had the highest mean value followed by eco-friendly retails (e-commerce or transact) mean = (2.80), low flow viii water in the bathroom and toilet, reusable plastics, towel, cutleries, beddings mean= (2.70), local food/Indigenous food hotel kitchen mean = (2.30) and repair and refurbishing mean = (1.80). Guests' preferred green practices in the selected hotels revealed that energy saving bulbs mean= (2.90), eco friendly retailers mean = (2.80), carbon free environment mean= (1.10), low flow fixtures in the bathroom and toilet mean = (2.70) were preferred. The Chi-Square showed that there is a significant relationship between preference for green practices and awareness of green practices at the hotels (p< 0.01) while, there is a significant relationship between preference for green practices and the respondents’ age (p < 0.01), marital status (p < 0.01), education level (p < 0.01). The study recommends that sustainable green practices should be integrated more into the hotel facilities and used as standard for hotel licensing. This is to ensure a sustainable environment and conservation of our natural resources. M.AGRCI THESIS

ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIALS OF BOTANICAL GARDENS TO RECREATION AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA PhD FINAL PROGRESS REPORT

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIALS OF BOTANICAL GARDENS TO RECREATION AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA PhD FINAL PROGRESS REPORT ADEDAYO, OLUWATOYIN LYDIA The study was carried out in three botanical gardens in Southwestern Nigeria. Data were collected from University of Ibadan Botanical Garden (UIBG) Oyo State, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Botanical Garden (LAUTECHBG), Oyo State and Lekki Urban Forest and Animal Sanctuary Initiative (LUFASI) Nature Park, Lekki, Lagos State. Raunkier life-form scheme was used to classify plant on the basis of their forms. Three 25×25m2 plots of the different segments of the natural forests/conserved forest of the botanical gardens were assessed for indices of productivity of the plant community of each garden. The Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index was used to quantify species richness and abundance within gardens. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire, Oral interview and On-site observation, while secondary data were obtained from garden records. A total of 770 questionnaires were randomly administered to visitors and non-visitors at the three sites. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 21) and results were presented using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square and Person correlation). A total of 242 plant species in 66 families were recorded in the collections of the three gardens. Moraceae with 21 species was the most diverse and the Euphorbiaceae with 20 species respectively. A total of 27 families were represented with only one species in the gardens. Phanerophytes 73% (n=177) was the dominant group in the garden of the total number of plants recorded. Plant diversity index of the natural forests of the gardens was highest (3.42) at LUFASI, LAUTECHBG led in species richness with value of 199 over UI and LUFASI with 136 and 89 respectively. The woody tree abundance of the natural forests of the garden expressed as density was 1061.3/hectare2 in LAUTECHBG, 712/hectare2 in LUFASI and 573/hectare2 in UIBG. Native plants species collections account for 78.93% (n=191) in the garden. The rest were exotic and with the woody species that have established over a long period of time. Findings from the study revealed that majority of the respondents 98.7% were Nigerian, male (55%) and the age range of respondents was between 15-24 years (65.1%). Furthermore, the study showed that majority of the visitors (66.4%) were aware of the recreation and tourism potential of botanical gardens. The visitors also claimed tourism development in botanical gardens could enhance the inter relationships between plants, animals and humans. Also the non-visitors agreed that botanical gardens will enhance public reconnection with nature. Majority of the visitors (54%) were first time visitors while 46% were on a repeat visit. The result of the T-test reveals that there that there is a significant difference between the visitors and non- visitors’ level of awareness (r= 0.000; P<0.01) and perception (r= 0.001; P<0.01) of botanical garden for recreation and tourism development. The chi square test reveals that marital status (r= 0.000; P<0.01), religion (r= 0.000; P<0.01), education (r= 0.000; P<0.01), and occupation (r= 0.000; P<0.01) have significant relationship with their perception of botanical gardens for recreation and tourism development. Botanical garden has a key role in the development of tourism if properly and adequately managed. Conservation awareness should be carried out more vigorously and frequently to instill conservation ethics in both visitors and non-visitors to the gardens. M.TECH. THESIS