ECOTOURISM AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF OLUMIRIN WATERFALLS, ERIN-IJESHA, OSUN STATE, NIGERIA
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ABSTRACT
Ecotourism is one of the fastest expanding tourism markets receiving much attention in developing countries and economically impoverished regions around the world. Ecotourism accounts for a large share of some countries’ Gross Domestic Product, and so contributes to livelihoods of many people. This study assessed the contribution of ecotourism to the community development of the host community and her environs.
Data was collected using three methods, viz.: administration of a total of one hundred and twenty six copies of structured questionnaires to staffs (six), tourists (fifty), community residents (Erin Ijesha (thirty); Erin Oke (twenty)) and local business owners (twenty); oral interview was conducted to get information from the villagers, business owners and the staffs and; direct observation of the communities and the tourist centre. Analysis was done using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage tables).
The survey of the facilities / infrastructures available in the communities revealed that the roads are untarred but motorable. It was also observed that electricity, public health centre and communication services are available. 60% and 33.33% of respondents in Erin Oke and Erin Ijesha believed that the development of facilities / infrastructure is due to ecotourism of Olumirin waterfall while 40% and 63.33% respectively indicated otherwise. Over half of the respondents (55%) accepted that tourist influx has a ‘good’ influence on trade and business in Erin Oke. Erin Ijesha survey revealed 36.67% rating as good. The employment opportunities generated were mostly as business owners and staffs in the tourist site.
It was discovered that contributions to the communities are minimal; majorly in forms of small scale establishments within and outside the ecotourist destination and the few members of the community employed as staffs. Revenue from the sales of tickets goes to the State Government; no share is given to the community. All forms of tourism no matter how environmentally sensitive it is, is associated with some negativity; the extent which varies. Improved development of the communities such as good road network and recreational facilities construction will increase tourist influx as well as the economic and social welfare benefits to the residents. Revenue sharing policies can also be incorporated into the management policies.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Contents Pages
TITLE PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
ABSTRACT iii
DEDICATION iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT v
TABLE OF CONTENT vii
LIST OF TABLES xi
LIST OF FIGURES xii
LIST OF PLATES xiii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Significance of the study 3
1.2 Statement of problem 4
1.3 Justification of the study 4
1.4 Objective 5
1.5 Null hypothesis (Ho) 5
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 6
2.1 What is tourism? 6
2.1.1 Types of tourism 7
2.1.2 The tourism industry 7
2.2 Concept of ecotourism 9
2.2.1 Who is an ecotourist? 10
2.2.2 Types of ecotourists 11
2.2.3 Supply of ecotourism services 12
2.3 Ecotourism, conservation and sustainable wildlife management 13
2.4 Ecotourism and community development 15
2.5 Impacts of ecotourism 17
2.5.1 Socio-cultural impact 17
2.5.2 Economic impact 18
2.5.3 Environmental impact 19
2.6 National policy on tourism 19
2.7 Tourism and ecotourism development in Nigeria 21
2.8 Tourism development in Osun State 22
2.8.1 Osun State Ministry of Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism 23
2.8.2 Local Government Tourism Committees 23
2.9 Limitations to ecotourism potentials 23
CHAPTER THREE: STUDY AREA AND METHODOLOGY 26
3.1 The study area 26
3.1.1 Study area (Erin-Ijesha) 26
3.1.2 History 26
3.1.3 Climate and Vegetation 27
3.1.4 Topography 27
3.1.5 Economy 27
3.1.6 Religion 27
3.1.7 Erin-ijesha Waterfall 28
3.2 Data collection 30
3.3 Data analysis 31
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS 32
4.1 Demographic data of respondents 32
4.2 Part A (employees’ results) 35
4.2.1 Charging of entrance fees 35
4.2.2 Visitors and site management 35
4.2.3 Concessions 35
4.2.4 Provision of amenities for the community 35
4.3 Part B (Tourists results) 40
4.3.1 Category of tourists 40
4.3.2 Status of visit 40
4.3.3 Tourists appreciation, participation and sensitivity 43
4.3.4 Site management 43
4.3.5 Tourists perception of ecotourism 44
4.4 Part C (community residents’ results) 52
4.4.1 Tourist influx and influence on trade 52
4.4.2 Road condition 52
4.4.3 Social amenities in the communities 52
4.4.4 Community development 56
4.5 Part C (local business owners’ results) 60
4.5.1 Business types 60
4.5.2 Influence of tourists influx on trade and business 60
4.6 Negative impacts of ecotourism 63
4.7 Beneficiaries of Olumirin Waterfalls ecotourism 63
4.8 Craft work practised in Erin Ijesha and Erin-Oke 63
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 66
5.1 Site management 66
5.2 Tourists’ appreciation, participation and sensitivity 68
5.3 Types of business operating 69
5.4 Site resource use 70
5.5 Local residents’ stewardship 70
5.6 Local community and tourism 71
5.6.1 Economic benefits 71
5.6.2 Social welfare benefits 72
5.6.3 Benefits forgone 73
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 74
REFERENCES 76
APPENDICES
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Tourism is a global phenomenon. It has been hailed by some as the largest industry in the world (Wells, 1997; Lundberg et al., 1995; Ceballos-Lascurain, 1993) and continually growing. In 2000, a record of 699 million international tourist arrivals generated an estimated US$476 billion in international tourism receipts (World Tourism Organization, 2001). It accounts for more than 10% of total employment, 11% of global GDP, and total tourist trips are predicted to increase to 1.6 billion by 2020. Amidst this upsurge, research shows that there are more than five million eco-tourists and most of them are from North America, Europe and Australia (Kamauro, 1996).
Ecotourism is one of the fastest expanding tourism markets receiving much attention in developing countries and economically impoverished regions around the world. Ecotourism accounts for a large share of some countries’ gross domestic product, and so contributes to livelihoods of many people, as in Kenya, Madagascar, Nepal, Thailand and Malaysia (Isaacs, 2000). Some of the economic benefits which local communities can derive from ecotourism are employment opportunities, development associated with infrastructure (e.g. better road network and water) and ecotourism businesses (Hall, 2006a; Marsh, 2000; Weiler and Scidl, 2004). Ecotourism is an important sector of the tourist industry, and the United Nations estimates that the sector will contribute 25 percent of the world’s tourism revenues in 2012.
Tourism is defined as the sum total of the phenomena and relationship arising from the travel and stay of non-residents, in so far as they do not lead to permanent residence and are not connected with any earning activities (Okafor, 1995). It is of a complex nature involving a combination of attraction, transport, accommodation and infrastructures for tourist’s satisfaction. Tourism can also be defined as science, art and business of attracting and transporting visitors accommodate them, and graciously catering for their needs and wants. This implies that an activity that voluntarily and temporarily takes a person from his/her usual place of residence in order to satisfy a need either for pleasure, excitement, experience and or relaxation can be termed tourism (Ayodele,2002).
While it is safe to say that the demand for ecotourism is increasing worldwide, ecotourism is a small and specialized component of the world tourism market with major and increasing impact on both people and nature. Inappropriate tourism development and practice can degrade habitats and landscapes, deplete natural resources, and generate waste and pollution. Ecotourism thus minimises the negativity that tourism brings. The Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the cultural and natural history of the environment; taking care not to alter the integrity ecosystem; producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people.
Some further general characteristics of ecotourism have been identified by UNEP and the World Tourism Organisation as:
- involving appreciation not only of nature, but also of indigenous cultures prevailing in natural areas, as part of the visitor experience;
- containing education and interpretation as part of the tourist offer;
- generally, but not exclusively, organised for small groups by small, specialised And locally owned businesses (while recognising that foreign operators also market and operate ecotourism);
- minimising negative impacts on the natural and socio-cultural environment;
- supporting the protection of natural areas by generating economic benefits for the managers of natural areas;
- providing alternative income and employment for local communities; and
- increasing local and visitor awareness of conservation
1.1 Significance of the study
Ecotourism has been advocated within the academic literature as an important community economic development strategy due to the potential economic and social benefits that the sector can generate (Caldicott and Fuller, 2005). The ecotourists benefit from the sojourn through the ability of the destination product and service delivery to satisfy their felt needs while the host on the other hand benefit from the income generated from the services provided to meet the needs of the visitors, the employment and investment opportunities created by the provision of such services, as well as the stimulation of the practice of local cultures, traditions, arts and crafts and cuisine of the host population.
Tourism (ecotourism inclusive), which is undisputable, the tool for education and national development, is the smokeless industry which moves, feeds, and entertains millions of people around the world, creates wealth and millions of quality jobs, has the environment at the core of its activities and brings people and nations closer together. Ecotourism has been promoted and widely adopted as a strategy for funding conservation initiatives, while at the same time contributing to the socioeconomic development of host communities and providing for quality tourism experiences.
Most significantly, it is seen as an opportunity for local people living in tourism destinations to gain positive benefits from tourism development and the conservation of forests and protected areas. However, ecotourism can induce a variety of both positive and negative environmental, cultural and socioeconomic impacts at a destination.
1.2 Statement of problem
Tourism in Nigeria is still in its infancy considering the large accumulation of resources which are yet untapped and the institutional structure which is yet to be regulated to compete favourably with other fast growing tourism destinations. Successive governments have tried in their very best to put the industry in the national economic map but sector could not meet up with the exclusive listing. Even though rich in ecotourism and business tourism potentials and constrained by figurative and factual analysis to plan development, the political will and legislation are far from regulating the industry to keep abreast with both the national tourism policy and master plan implementation program in line with the United Nations Framework on sustainable tourism development efforts.
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