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

Abstract

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 The tourists however opined that cyber insecurity, outdated Information Communication Technology, unreliable out sourcing personnel as well as unskilled labour are the major factors affecting the usage of Information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