Segmenting and Understanding Ecotourists in Nigeria National Parks by Environmental Attitudes
Adekunle Anthony OGUNJINMI
Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management
Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
Email: seak1402@gmail.com, aaogunjinmi@futa.edu.ng Phone: +2348077428332
Summary
Studies on environmental attitudes of the ecotourists are an important tool in identifying support and ultimately behaviours towards conservation and environmental issues. This study was carried out in the seven National Parks in Nigeria to determine the level of environmental attitudes of the ecotourists and the socio-demographic and trip characteristics underlying their attitudes. The population for the study was the ecotourists to the parks …show more content…
Ecotourism, a concept and act that emanated from sustainable development, is about uniting conservation, communities and sustainable travelling (Mfinanga, 2011). Ecotourism has become one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry, growing three times faster than the industry as a whole (Blangy and Mehta, 2006) and becoming an important tool for economic, environmental and cultural sustainability. According to Honey (2006), ecotourism is being increasingly viewed by local and rural communities as an important tool for promoting sustainable livelihoods, cultural preservation and biodiversity conservation. For example, Lee and Moscardo (2005) opined that ‘an ecotourism resort should develop visitors’ knowledge and awareness of the natural environment and encourage them to conserve the environment through such practices as waste minimization, energy and water conservation, and minimal wildlife disturbance. It has also being pointed out that ecotourism businesses may be well placed to make active contributions to conservation through, for example, the communication of conservation messages to the general public (Beaumont, 1998, 2001). The growth of ecotourism and its development around the World is also accompanied by negative impacts, causing untold damage to some of the most ecological systems (Blangy and Mehta, 2006). Such damages are offshoot of human environmental attitudes. According to Karademir (2013), moving towards the goal of sustainability requires fundamental changes in human attitudes and
Adekunle Anthony OGUNJINMI
Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management
Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria
Email: seak1402@gmail.com, aaogunjinmi@futa.edu.ng Phone: +2348077428332
Summary
Studies on environmental attitudes of the ecotourists are an important tool in identifying support and ultimately behaviours towards conservation and environmental issues. This study was carried out in the seven National Parks in Nigeria to determine the level of environmental attitudes of the ecotourists and the socio-demographic and trip characteristics underlying their attitudes. The population for the study was the ecotourists to the parks …show more content…
Ecotourism, a concept and act that emanated from sustainable development, is about uniting conservation, communities and sustainable travelling (Mfinanga, 2011). Ecotourism has become one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry, growing three times faster than the industry as a whole (Blangy and Mehta, 2006) and becoming an important tool for economic, environmental and cultural sustainability. According to Honey (2006), ecotourism is being increasingly viewed by local and rural communities as an important tool for promoting sustainable livelihoods, cultural preservation and biodiversity conservation. For example, Lee and Moscardo (2005) opined that ‘an ecotourism resort should develop visitors’ knowledge and awareness of the natural environment and encourage them to conserve the environment through such practices as waste minimization, energy and water conservation, and minimal wildlife disturbance. It has also being pointed out that ecotourism businesses may be well placed to make active contributions to conservation through, for example, the communication of conservation messages to the general public (Beaumont, 1998, 2001). The growth of ecotourism and its development around the World is also accompanied by negative impacts, causing untold damage to some of the most ecological systems (Blangy and Mehta, 2006). Such damages are offshoot of human environmental attitudes. According to Karademir (2013), moving towards the goal of sustainability requires fundamental changes in human attitudes and