Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The effect of distance on community participation in ecotourism and conservation at Okomu National Park Nigeria

  • Published:
GeoJournal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Okomu National park is one of the seven national parks in Nigeria; it is the smallest and the last to be created, which has generated some hostility from the local communities who have been stripped of their ownership. The study focuses on the participation of communities in ecotourism and conservation based on their distance from the park applying the distance decay effect. The host communities were divided into precincts based on their distances from the park with the primary aim of investigating the level of participation in ecotourism activities based on their distances from the park. The study revealed that the communities in the intermediate precinct had higher levels of participation than in the proximate and remote precincts. The study revealed that distance had an effect on participation in ecotourism, but it did not clearly align with the distance decay theory.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adeleke, O., & Nzama, T. (2013). Assessment of community participation in ecotourism and conservation at Hhuhuwe-Umfolozi Park. South Africa Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 3(3), 33–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agbelusi, E. A., Ogunjemite, B. G., Koyenikan, I. O., & Okeyoyin, O. A. (2003). The primate fauna and the distribution of chimpanzees of Okomu National Park, Edo State, Nigeria. Journal of Tropical Forest Resource Management, 19(4), 161–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahn, M. J., & McKercher, B. (2015). The effect of cultural distance on tourism: A study of international visitors to Hong Kong. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 20(1), 94–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajayi, S. S. (2002). Multipurpose forest management for bushmeat production: A success story from West Africa (pp. 1–18). Nigeria: MacMillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allendorf, T. D., Smith, J. L. D., & Anderson, D. H. (2007). Residents’ perception of Royal Bardia National Park, Nepal. Landscape and Urban Planning, 82, 33–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2007.01.015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Almeida-García, F., Peláez-Fernández, M. Á., BalbuenaVázquez, A., & Cortés-Macias, R. (2016). Residents’ perceptions of tourism development in Benalmádena (Spain). Tourism Management, 54, 259–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andereck, K. L., Valentine, K. M., Knopf, R. C., & Vogt, C. A. (2005). Residents’ perceptions of community tourism impacts. Annals of Tourism Research, 32(4), 1056–1076.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ap, J. (1990). Residents’ perceptions research on the social impacts of tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 17, 610–616.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ap, J. (1992). Residents’ perceptions on tourism impacts. Annals of Tourism Research, 19, 665–690. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(90)90032-M.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aweto, A. O. (2012). Shifting cultivation and secondary succession in the tropics. London: Cabi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baksh, R., Soemarno, Hakim L., & Nugroho, I. (2012). Community participation in the development of ecotourism: A case study in Tambaksari Village. East Java Indonesia Journal of Basic and Applied Scientific Research, 2(12), 12432–12437.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baxter, M. J. (1979). The interpretation of the distance and attractiveness components in models of recreational trips. Geographical Analysis, 11(3), 311–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Briedenhann, J., & Wickens, E. (2004). Tourism routes as a tool for the economic development of rural areas-vibrant hope or impossible dream? Tourism Management, 25(1), 71–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bull, A. (1991). The economics of travel and tourism. Melbourne: Pitman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burkey, S. (1993). People first: A guide to self-reliant, participatory rural development (2nd Edition) (pp. 30–44). London: Zed Books Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J. S. (2000). An investigation of urban residents’ loyalty to tourism. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 24, 5–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chowdhury, M. S. H., Gudmundsson, C., Izumiyama, S., Koike, M., Nazia, N., Rana, M. P., et al. (2014). Community attitudes toward forest conservation programs through collaborative protected area management in Bangladesh. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 16(6), 1235–1252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clawson, M. (1959). Methods of measuring the demand for, and value of, outdoor recreation, reprint no. 10. Washington, D.C., Resources for the Future, Inc., Feb. 1959.

  • Cole, S. (2006). Cultural tourism, community participation and empowerment. In M. K. Smith & M. Robson (Eds.), Cultural tourism in a changing world: Politics, participation and (re)presentation (pp. 50–75). Cleveland: Channel View Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coria, J., & Calfucura, E. (2012). Ecotourism and the development of indigenous communities: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Ecological Economics, 73, 47–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deery, M., Jago, L., & Fredline, L. (2012). Rethinking social impacts of tourism research: A new research agenda. Tourism Management, 33(1), 64–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dercon, S., & Krishnan, P. (1996). Income portfolios in rural Ethiopia and Tanzania: Choices and constraints. Journal of Development Studies, 32(6), 850–875.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diedrich, A., & Garcia-Buades, E. (2009). Local perceptions of tourism as indicators of destination decline. Tourism Management, 30(4), 512–521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Digun-Aweto, O., Fawole, O. P., & Ayodele, I. A. (2015). Attitude of local dwellers towards ecotourism in the Okomu National Park, Edo State Nigeria. Czech Journal of Tourism, 4(2), 103–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drezner, T., & Drezner, Z. (1996). Competitive facilities: Market share and location with random utility. Journal of Regional Science, 36(1), 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eldridge, D., & Jones, J. P. (1991). Warped space: A geography of distance decay. Professional Geographer, 43(4), 500–511.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eswaran, M., & Kotwal, A. (1990). Implications of credit constraints for risk behaviour in less developed economies. Oxford Economic Papers, 42(2), 473–482.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frauman, E., & Banks, S. (2011). Gateway community resident perceptions of tourism development: Incorporating importance-performance analysis into the limits of change framework. Tourism Management, 13(1), 128–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greengrass, E. J. (2006). A survey of chimpanzee in South-West Nigeria (p. 51). Lagos and Calabar: Unpublished report on file at office of NCF-WCS Biodiversity Research Programme.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greer, T., & Wall, G. (1979). Recreational hinterlands: A theoretical and empirical analysis. In G. Wall (Ed.), Recreational land use in Southern Ontario (Vol. 14, pp. 227–246)., Department of geography publication series no. 14 Waterloo: Waterloo University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gursoy, D., Chi, C. G., & Dyer, P. (2009). An examination of locals’ attitudes. Annals of Tourism Research, 36, 723–726.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gursoy, D., Jurowski, C., & Uysal, M. (2002). Resident attitudes e a structural modeling approach. Annals of Tourism Research, 29(1), 79–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gursoy, D., & Rutherford, D. G. (2004). Host attitudes toward tourism: An improved structural model. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(3), 495–516.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haley, A. J., Snaith, T., & Miller, G. (2005). The social impacts of tourism: A case study of Bath, UK. Annals of Tourism Research, 32(3), 647–668.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, C., & Page, S. (2014). The geography of tourism and recreation: Environment, place and space (4th ed.). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanink, D. M., & White, K. (1999). Distance effects in the demand for wildland recreational services: The case of National Parks in the United States. Environmental and Planning Annals, 31, 477–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jurowski, C., & Gursoy, D. (2004). Distance effects on residents’ attitudes toward tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 31(2), 296–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2003.12.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaltenborn, B. P., Andersen, O., Nellemann, C., Bjerke, T., & Thrane, C. (2008). Resident attitudes towards mountain second-home tourism development in Norway: The effects of environmental attitudes. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 16(6), 664–680.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, K., Uysal, M. & Sirgy, M. J. (2013). How does tourism in a community impact the quality of life of community residents? Tourism Management, 36(7), 527–540.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiss, A. (2004). Is community-based ecotourism a good use of biodiversity conservation funds? Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 19(5), 232–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H., Guillet, B. D., Law, R., & Leung, R. (2012). Robustness of distance decay for international pleasure travelers: A longitudinal approach. International Journal of Tourism Research, 14, 409–420. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.861.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, W., Vogt, C. A., Luo, J., He, G., Frank, K. A., & Liu, J. (2012). Drivers and socioeconomic impacts of tourism participation in protected areas. PLoS ONE, 7(4), e35420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucchetti, V. G., & Font, X. (2013). Community based tourism: Critical success factors. The International Centre for Responsible Tourism, 27, 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macura, B., Zorondo-Rodríguez, F., Grau-Satorras, M., Demps, K., Laval, M., Garcia, C. A., et al. (2011). Local community attitudes toward forests outside protected areas in India. Impact of legal awareness, trust, and participation. Ecology and Society, 16(3), 10. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-04242-160310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mansfield, E. (1994). Statistics for business and economics,methods and applications (5th ed.). New York: W.W.Norton & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manyara, G., & Jones, E. (2007). Community-based tourism enterprises development in Kenya: An exploration of their potential as avenues of poverty reduction. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 15(6), 628–644.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masozera, M., Erickson, J. D., Clifford, D., Coppolillo, P., Sadiki, H. G., & Mazet, J. K. (2013). Integrating the management of Ruaha landscape of Tanzania with local needs and preferences. Environmental Management, 52(6), 1533–1546.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKercher, B., & Lew, A. A. (2003). Distance decay and the impact of effective tourism exclusion zones on international travel flows. Journal of Travel Research, 42(2), 159–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendoza-Ramos, A., & Prideaux, B. (2018). Assessing ecotourism in an Indigenous community: Using, testing and proving the wheel of empowerment framework as a measurement tool. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 26(2), 277–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mensah, I., & Adofo, E. (2013). Community participation in ecotourism: The case of Bobiri Forest Reserve and Butterfly Sanctuary in Ashanti Region of Ghana. American Journal of Tourism Management., 2(1), 34–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mishra, C., Young, J. C., Fiechter, M., Rutherford, B., & Redpath, S. M. (2017). Building partnerships with communities for biodiversity conservation: Lessons from Asian mountains. Journal of Applied Ecology, 54, 1583–1591.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohd, A., Jusoff, K., Sheikh, A. H., & Yaman, A. R. (2009). The management of Bhawal National Park, Bangladesh by the local community for resource protection and ecotourism. Asian Social Science, 4(7), 101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nekola, J. C., & White, P. S. (1999). The distance decay of similarity in biogeography and ecology. Journal of Biogeography, 26, 867–878.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicholas, L., Thapa, B., & Ko, Y. (2009). Residents’ perspectives of a world heritage site: The pitons management area, St. Lucia. Annals of Tourism Research, 36(3), 390–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunkoo, R., & Gursoy, D. (2012). Residents’ support for tourism: An identity perspective. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(1), 243–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2011.05.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunkoo, R., & Ramkissoon, H. (2011). Developing a community support model for tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 38(3), 964–988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Offem, O., Lifu, F. L., Ogar, I. J., Eja, E. I., & Ajadi, B. S. (2012). Potentials of developing the Cross River State National Park as an ecotourism resort, Nigeria. Savap Academic International Journal, 2(3), 549–555.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okomu National Park. (2010). Quarterly report of Okomu National Park Service.

  • Olaniyi, O.E., Akindele, S.O., & Ogunjemite, B.G. (2018). Ecotourism suitability of Okomu and Pendjari National Parks. Anatolia, 1–12.

  • Olujide, M. G., Ayodeji, C. O., & Lameed, G. A. (2009). Rural dwellers’ participation in conservation management of old Oyo National Park. Journal of Rural Development, 28(1), 37–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Onasanya, A. S. (2009). Perceived effects of faming-related health problems of farmers’ productivity in Yewa North Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. The Social Sciences, 4(1), 42–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ormsby, A., & Kaplin, B. A. (2005). A framework for understanding community resident perceptions of Masoala National Park, Madagascar. Environmental Conservation, 32, 156–164. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892905002146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ou, S. M., Chang, C., & Lee, Y. H. (2011). Distance effects and product feature differentiation in a tourism duopoly. International Journal of Services, Technology and Management, 15(1), 27–39. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJSTM.2011.038660.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, B. K., & Rimmawi, H. S. (1992). Tourism in Saudi Arabia: Asir National Park. Annals of Tourism Research, 19, 501–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perdue, R., Long, P., & Allen, L. (1990). Resident support for tourism development. Annals of Tourism Research, 17, 586–599. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(90)90029-Q.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pizam, A., Milman, A., & King, B. (1994). The perceptions of tourism employees and their families towards tourism: A cross-cultural comparison. Tourism Management, 15(1), 53–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsay, G., Dodds, R., Furtado, D., Mykhayletska, Y., Kirichenko, A., & Majedian, M. (2017). The barriers to Millennials visiting Rouge Urban National Park. Sustainability, 9(6), 904.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rasoolimanesh, S. M., Jaafar, M., Ahmad, A. G., & Barghi, R. (2017). Community participation in World Heritage Site conservation and tourism development. Tourism Management, 58, 142–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rengert, G. F., Piquero, A. R., & Jones, P. R. (1999). Distance decay reexamined. Criminology, 37(2), 427–445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, S., & Wall, G. (1999). Ecotourism: Toward congruence between theory and practice. Tourism Management, 20, 123–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, S., Byrne, J., & Pickering, C. (2016). The role of distance in peri-urban national park use: Who visits them and how far do they travel? Applied Geography, 63, 77–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheyvens, R. (1999). Ecotourism and the empowerment of local communities. Tourism Management, 20(2), 245–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, B., Dyer, P., Carter, J., & Gursoy, D. (2008). Exploring residents’ perceptions of the social impacts of tourism on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Administration, 9(3), 288–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharpley, R. (2014). Host perceptions of tourism: A review of the research. Tourism Management, 42, 37–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoukri, M. M., Asyali, M. H., & Donner, A. (2004). Sample size requirements for the design of reliability study: Review and new results. Statistical Methods in Medical Research, 13(4), 251–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • SPSS Version 20. (2014). Computer software. Chicago: IBM.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stem, C. J., Lassoie, J. P., Lee, D. R., Deshler, D. D., & Schelhas, J. W. (2003). Community participation in ecotourism benefits: The link to conservation practices and perspectives. Society & Natural Resources, 16(5), 387–413.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang, C., Zhong, L., & Cheng, S. (2012). Tibetan attitudes toward community participation and ecotourism. Journal of Resource Ecology, 1, 8–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Til, V. J. (1984). Citizen participation in the future. Policy Studies Review, 3(2), 311–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobler, W.R. (1970) A computer movie simulating urban growth in the detroit region economic geography, Vol. 46, In Supplement: Proceedings. International Geographical Union. Commission on Quantitative Methods. pp. 234–240. Clark University.

  • Tomljenovic, R., & Faulkner, B. (2000). Tourism and older residents in a sunbelt resort. Annals of Tourism Research, 27(1), 93–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tosun, C. (2000). Limits to community participation in the tourism development process in developing countries. Tourism Management, 21(6), 613–633.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tosun, C. (2005). Stages in the emergence of a participatory tourism development approach in the Developing World. Geoforum, 36, 333–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tosun, C. (2006). Expected nature of community participation in tourism development. Tourism Management, 27(3), 493–504.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weaver, D. B., & Lawton, L. J. (2001). Resident perceptions in the urban–rural fringe. Annals of tourism research, 28(2), 439–458.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, J., & Lawson, R. (2001). Community issues and resident opinions of tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 28(2), 269–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, S., Fesenmaier, D., Fesenmaier, J., & Van Es, J. (2001). Factors for success in rural tourism development. Journal of Travel Research, 40(2), 132–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, I. A., & Zhao, W. M. (2016). Exploring the effect of geographic convenience on repeat visitation and tourist spending: The moderating role of novelty seeking. Current Issues in Tourism, 19(8), 824–844.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woosnam, K., Norman, W., & Ying, T. (2009). Exploring the theoretical framework of emotional solidarity between residents and tourists. Journal of Travel Research, 48(2), 245–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoon, Y., Chen, J. S., & Gursoy, D. (1999). An investigation of the relationship between tourism impacts and host communities’ characteristics. Anatolia: An International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research, 10(1), 29–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y., Cole, S. T., & Chancellor, C. H. (2013). Residents’ preferences for involvement in tourism development and influences from individual profiles. Tourism Planning and Development, 10(3), 267–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, X., Lu, H., & Holt, J. B. (2011). Modeling spatial accessibility to parks: A national study. International Journal of Health Geographics, 10(1), 31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, J., Wall, G., Du, J. K., Gan, M. Y., & Nie, X. (1999). The travel patterns and travel distance of tourists to National Parks in China. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 4(2), 27–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, W., & Ritchie, J. R. (2007). Tourism and poverty alleviation: An integrative research framework. Current Issues in Tourism, 10(2/3), 119–143.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the reviewers for the constructive comments made on the earlier version of this article. The authors will like to thank Prof Albert Aweto, Department of Geography, University of Ibadan, for providing insights, The conservator of Park: Mr. O.C. Oladipo and special thanks to Mr. Matthew, and Mr. Foluso for their immense help during the data collection period.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

    O. Digun-Aweto & Melville Saayman

  2. Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    O. P. Fawole

Authors
  1. O. Digun-Aweto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. O. P. Fawole
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Melville Saayman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to O. Digun-Aweto.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Digun-Aweto, O., Fawole, O.P. & Saayman, M. The effect of distance on community participation in ecotourism and conservation at Okomu National Park Nigeria. GeoJournal 84, 1337–1351 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-018-9922-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-018-9922-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation