Abstract:
The study was aimed to assess the ecotourism potentials of Owu waterfall in Owa Onire, Kwara State.The ecotourism potentials were assessed using direct observation, questionnaire administration and oral interview.The respondents for the study were from the local community of Owa-Onire where Owu waterfall is located. Population from the Independent National Electoral Commission was obtained from the community leaders when no other population data was available. The community has a population of 500 adults who were eligible to vote. Samples were drawn from the eligible voters. A total of 111 respondents representing 22.2% of the adult population were sampled. Direct observation to waterfall and the host communities was done in order to make an onsite assessment of the tourism potentials of the waterfall. Interviews were conducted to collect information from the Community leaders and visiting tourists. Photographs were taken during the direct observation of the study.Findings showed that the major attraction is Owu waterfall and other natural and geomorphologic attractions around it. It was also observed that most of the attractions were not developed and were not easily accessible by tourists. Owu waterfall is being managed by the leaders of local community; there is no particular system of operation in the fall and there is no record of tourists’ visitation and so the annual tourist influx by the community leaders was estimated at 5000 tourists per annum. Furthermore, there is no tourism market as at present because there is no cost charge for admission for tourism activities at Owu water fall. Most ecotourism facilities were not available at the waterfall.The respondents believed that ecotourism or nature tourism can contributes to lasting economic development, create permanent jobs for local people, drive the development of other related industries, upgrade local infrastructures, promote consumption and production, finance the establishment and management of Owu waterfall, bring about efficient use of natural resources and encourages intercultural appreciation and communication between host communities and tourists. Finally, most of them
