OSUN TOURIST RESORT, ERIN IJIESA WATER FALLS ENHANCING TOURISM THROUGH LANDSCAPE SCULPTURING OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The demand for a resort may be created by the natural resources of a place such as wildlife, unspoiled vegetation, waterfalls, lakes, springs, mountain Lagoon and Oceanfronts. Such places of interests are visited by tourists to have a different experience, mental stimulations and sensual pleasures. Generally, tourists are drawn to beautiful, serene and interesting sites. The Erin Ijesa waterfall has been an interesting site visited by thousands of tourists from within and outside the country. But this potential tourist destination is devoid of planning and lacks other facilities that could enhance pleasure and mental stimulation. It is in this regard that an attempt will be made to present a proposal for the development of a functional resort centre, creating a beautiful and tranquil environment at the site through the concept of effective landscaping and the provision of facilities to cater for various tourists and different tourism purposes. Information relevant to the development of a tourist resort was gathered through various means such as review of related books, journals, magazine and past M. Tech thesis report; understudying some of the existing tourist resorts and interview Also, an in-depth analysis of the site for the proposed resort was carried out. The site peculiarities and resource potentials were considered alongside with other considerations such as the site climate, categories of tourists, types of activities, types of facilities and number of users and landscaping, to evolve a functional design of a tourist resort. Recommendations are also put forward to enhance sustainable tourism activities at the resort.