Tourists’ Perception and Assessment of Ecotourism Development at Ikogosi Warm Spring and Arinta Waterfall, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Many factors influence tourists' perceptions of the development of ecotourism in any destination. This study examined the tourists' perception and assessment of the rudiments of ecotourism development at Ikogosi Warm Spring (IWS), Ikogosi-Ekiti and Arinta Waterfall (AW), Ipole-Iloro in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The accidental sampling technique was used to select 220 ecotourists (IWS-150, AW-70) as respondents to a structured questionnaire. The data generated were analysed using descriptive statistics of percentages to assess the respondents' perception of the impact of ecotourism on infrastructural development and one-way analysis of variance (α0.05) on the impact of socioeconomic variables on the amount tourists are willing to pay at the sites. At IWS and AW, 72.7 and 92.9% of ecotourists, respectively, perceived enhancement of patronage through improvements in road conditions. The ecotourists (IWS: 61.3%); (AW: 47.1%) perceived that electricity and internet services were adequate, while most ecotourists (IWS: 80.7%, AW: 95.7%) noted the existence of cordial ecotourists-community relationship. The age (p=0.01), gender (p=0.01), educational status (p=0.00), occupation (p = 0.03) and monthly Income (p = 0.00) significantly influenced the amount ecotourists were willing to pay. Age, gender and educational status of tourists are important factors that affect patronage of ecotourism in IWS and AW, and despite the positive perception and assessment of tourists towards ecotourism development at the sites, improved road conditions and standard social amenities will enhance patronage and development at Ikogosi Warm Spring and Arinta Waterfall in Ekiti State, Nigeria.