Ski – resort and regional development: profile of visitors ... - E-Journal

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Onome Daniel Awaritefe
were also found in earlier studies by Afolabi (1993), and Fekeye and Crompton (1977) to
have considerably influenced destination patronage by tourists. In contrast, more recent
research (Moscardo, 2000; Lubbe, 1999; and Zapalska, et al 2004) tended more to favour
cultural or man-made components as destination determinants of tourists’ choices and demand
patterns.
It is in light of such empirical contradictions that Knudson (1998) argued that majority of
existing studies on determinants of destination product demand appear inconclusive due to
certain reasons as flaws in manner of variable selection, data collection and measurements.
Nevertheless, as Knudson further observes, many scholars still believe that some relationships
exist between tourist’s product demands and demographic, social, cultural and environmental
factors, though some empirical evidence points to the contrary. In line with Knudson, Lea
(1999) suggest that further research are therefore required to make reliable statements on these
suspect determinants of tourism destination product demand. It is in the context of these
contradictions and flaws in the literature, and need for further verification of the belief that
demographic, social, culture/nationality of tourist and destination quality determine tourist
product demand that this study is designed, using a Third world tropical country, Nigeria, as
environment of study.
CONTEXT OF STUDY AREA
The study area, Nigeria, is located in West Africa, between latitudes 5°N and 14°N, and
longitudes 3°E and 15°E.. With a population of about 120 million people, Nigeria occupies
an area of approximately 913,768 Sq. Kms (Awaritefe, 2000). Attractions to tourists in Nigeria
are both natural and cultural features. The primary natural attractions for tourism include
outstanding scenic landform areas such as beaches, rivers and inselberges, and the rainforest
and savannah vegetation, which provides natural habitat for a wide variety of wildlife/game.
Nigeria is also endowed with good climate, all year sunshine, and good location along the
coast of the Atlantic Ocean, all of which encouraged the development of numerous good
beaches, especially around Lagos. The unique cultural attractions in Nigeria include a chain
of national museums, ancient slave sites, and ancient palaces and shrines. It is from these vast
and diverse tourism resources that seven tourism destinations were selected for detailed study
of tourists and their product demand in Nigeria (See Figure 1). The seven centers selected for
study include Yankari Park, Kainji Lake Park, and Obudu Ranch; these represent the
nature/ecotourism destinations in Nigeria. Three destinations - Jos, Benin City and Badagry
Beach were also selected to represent the urban/cultural and historic tourism destinations in
the country. It is from the public museums, cultural centres and parks in Benin City, Jos and
Badagry beach areas that tourists were sampled. Additionally, Abraka River Resort was
selected to represent hotel resorts. The seven destinations were also selected such that one
was picked from each of the six geo-political zones in Nigeria; though two destinations were
selected from the South-West Zone because of the larger concentration of tourism destinations
in that zone.
Tourism Today - Fall 2007 - Full Paper