ASSESSMENT OF THE TOURISM POTENTIAL OF CULTURAL LANDSCAPE IN OSUN GROVE, OSOGBO, NIGERIA

Abstract

The cultural landscape is a heritage site of value with unique features which reflect the history of a people, and it is handed down from one generation to another. So that its value does not diminish, the cultural landscape in many developed countries is developed and showcased as a tourist attraction to cultural tourism enthusiasts and tourists in general, who wish to enjoy the views and ambience of the site. Unfortunately, the cultural landscape of Osun grove, Osogbo, Nigeria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also a unique cultural site in southwest Nigeria, the last of the sacred forests of the Yoruba land that has suffered a lack of attention and development from the stakeholders which has deprived it from enjoying the popularity which other cultural landscapes in other climes get. This motivated research to investigate the tourism potential of cultural landscapes in the Osun Grove Osogbo, with a view to developing a framework on its conservation and development. In conducting this research, a mixed method research approach was employed using quantitative survey with the use of structured questionnaire; followed by a qualitative data gathering method using interviews. A total of 788 questionnaires were administered among residents of Osogbo metropolis, tourists visiting the cultural landscape and tourism stakeholders related to the cultural landscape. Data obtained were analyzed with the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS23) using Chi-Square, ordinal logistic regression, and Kendal tau correlation. The research identified setbacks which have prevented tourism development on the cultural landscape which included shortage and absence of tourism facilities, insecurity, and some environmental challenges such as waste disposal, indiscriminate dropping of refuse, deforestation, and flood. The study found that the problems are due to lack of adequate funding by the government and a lack of attention by the necessary stakeholders. The implication of the findings is that, where tourism is not properly developed on the cultural landscape, it is likely to lose its tangible and intangible authenticity in no distant a time and be relegated to being only a “shrine” which will be unmanageable not only to the people but also by the government. The research recommends that a public private partnership arrangement could be made between the government and private organizations willing to invest in the development of the cultural landscape for tourism. A conceptual framework for the development and conservation of the cultural landscape was developed based on the findings of this research. If implemented, the suggestions should provide a strong platform for salvaging the cultural landscape from ruin and being removed from the World Heritage List.