Assessing Community Engagement in Tourism Planning and Development in Nigeria: A Case Study of Arinta Waterfall Tourist Resort, Ipole Iloro Ekiti State
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Date
2012-05
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Transnational Journal of Science and Technology
Abstract
Tourism development and finance is seen as a very viable means of economic development for any country. Apart from generating wealth for the economy, tourist sites also enhance community cohesion and promote peace within the host community. Tourism needs a high level of planning and this has to involve the local community in order for them to have a sense of attachment to the site. This paper reviews the Arinta Waterfall in Iloro Ekiti, Nigeria. it presents the report of a research into how engaged the members of the community are regarding the resort. Interviews were held with key stakeholders in the community and in the state planning authority. Questionnaires were also distributed among staff of the resort as well as community members randomly. The result shows that the community members don’t feel attached to the tourist site hence; there is a strong tendency for them to blame the lack of development and public awareness of the resort of the government officials. This paper however recommends that Community engagement and impact of development must be given high cognisance as lack of community acceptance can have adverse effect on any development; and that there is a need for tourism promotion and awareness. It is indeed disheartening when majority of people living in a neighbourhood are oblivious of the vast natural endowment within their community. Community interest and social capital can be developed through coordinated attempts and effort by the developers and planners by designing sustainable means of engaging with local community groups
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Arinta waterfall, Community engagement, Ekiti State, Tourism development