International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Systems

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Residents’ Views on Benefits and Costs of Ecotourism Projects:A Study of Bobiri Forest and Butterfly Sanctuary in Ghana


Affiliations
1 Department of Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, Ghana
2 Department of Hospitality Management, Marshalls University College, Accra, Ghana
3 School of Business, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Sustainability of ecotourism projects has been a subject of interest to researchers around the world. Whilst tourism researchers advocate the need for constant monitoring and evaluation of tourism impacts, studies on residents’ perceptions on benefits and costs of ecotourism projects, especially in developing countries, remains under researched. This paper brings to the fore issues on residents views on the benefits and costs of ecotourism projects at Bobiri Forest and Butterfly Sanctuary in Ghana. Residents acknowledged the presence of both benefits and costs of ecotourism development. However, it was revealed that residents were much interested in the socio-economic and socio-cultural benefits of tourism. The study suggests that socio-demographic characteristics, native status, place of residence and length of stay influence residents’ perceptions of tourism. Statistically a significant difference was found between place of residence and economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts of tourism. It was concluded that for the goal of ecotourism development to be achieved, there is the need for residents’ views on the project to be considered and thereby involving residents in ecotourism development. The study recommends that a longitudinal study should be conducted on the impacts of tourism in the area and community participation must be wholly encouraged.

Keywords

Ecotourism, Impacts of Tourism, Community Involvement, Sustainability, Residents.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Afenyo, A. E. (2012). Community participation in ecotourism: Evidence from Tafi Atome, Ghana. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 2(2).

  • Akyeampong, O. A. (2011). Pro-poor tourism: Residents’ expectations, experiences and perceptions in the Kakum National Park area of Ghana. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 19(2), 197-213.

  • Alexander, S.E. (2000). Resident attitudes towards conservation and black howler monkeys in Belize: The Community Baboon Sanctuary. Environmental Conservation, 27, 341-350.

  • Amuquandoh, F. E. (2006). Host communities concerns and attitude towards tourism development in the Lake Bosomtwi Basin of Ghana. (Unpublished doctoral thesis). University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana).

  • Amuquandoh, F. E. (2009). Residents’ perceptions of the environmental impacts of tourism in the Lake Bosomtwe Basin, Ghana. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 18(2), 223-238.

  • Andriotis, K. (2003). Coastal resorts morphology: The cretan experience. Tourism Recreation Research, 28(1), 67-76.

  • Andriotis, K. (2005). Community groups’ perceptions of and preferences for tourism development: Evidence from Crete. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 29(1), 67-90. DOI: 10.1177/1096348004268196.

  • Andereck, K.L., & Vogt, C.A. (2000). The relationship between residents attitudes towards tourism and tourism development options. Journal of Travel Research 39(3), 27-36.

  • Ap, J. (1992). Residents’ perceptions on tourism impacts. Annals of Tourism Research 19(4), 665-690.

  • Blamey, R. K. (2001). Principles of ecotourism. In D. B. Weaver (Eds.), The encyclopedia of ecotourism (pp. 5-22). Oxon and Cambridge: CABI.

  • Buckley, R. C. (2004). Impacts positive and negative: links between ecotourism and environment. In R. C. Buckley (Ed.), Environmental impacts of ecotourism (pp. 5-14). Oxfordshire and Cambridge: CABI.

  • Butler, R.W. (1980). The concept of a tourist area cycle of evolution: Implications for management resources. Canadian Geographer, 24, 5-12.

  • Cooper, C., Fletcher, J., Fyall, A., David, G., & Wanhill, S. (2008). Tourism principles and practice. (4th ed.). London: Prentice Hall.

  • Campbell, L. M. (1999). Ecotourism in rural developing communities. Annals of Tourism Research, 26(3), 534-553.

  • Dogbevi, E.K. (2017) Ghana Business News. https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2015/09/26/ghanas-2-1b-revenue-from-tourism-in-2014-less-than-in-2013/: Accessed the 10th July, 2017, at 11:20 am.

  • Doxey, G.V. (1975). A causation theory of visitor- resident irritants, methodology and research inferences. In conference proceedings: Sixth Annual Conference of Travel Research Association (pp. 195-198). San Diego, CA: Travel Research Association.

  • Fennel, D. A. (2002). Ecotourism: Where we’ve been; where we’re going. Journal of Ecotourism, 1(1), 1-6.

  • Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) (2012). Ecotourism. Retrieved from http://csir-forig.org.gh/eco-tourism.php on 22/8/2013.

  • Ghana Statistical Service (2000). Household and Census Report. Accra: Ghana.

  • Ghana Statistical Service (2003). Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. Accra: Ghana.

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

  • Harre, R. (1984). Some reflections on the concept of `social representation’. Social Research, 51, (4), 927-938.

  • Huang, X. (2008). The comparison research of nature-based recreation resource management between Canada and China’s national park [in Chinese]. Beijing: China Travel and Tourism Press.

  • Homans, G. (1961). Social behavior in elementary forms. New York: Harcourt, Brace Holladay, P. J., & Ormby, A. A. (2012). A comparative study of local perceptions of ecotourism and conservation at Five Blues Lake National Park, Belize. Journal of Ecotourism, 10(2), 118-134.

  • Honey, M. (2008). Ecotourism and sustainable development: Who owns paradise? Washington DC: Island Press.

  • Kayat, K. (2000). Power through tourism: a blessing on Mahsuri’s eighth generation in Lankawi? (Unpublished doctoral thesis) Michigan State University).

  • Kayat, K. (2002). Power, social exchanges and tourism in Langkawi: rethinking resident perceptions. International Journal of Tourism Research, 4, 171-191.

  • Kayat, K., Nurhazani, M., Mohd, S., & Pranom, K. (2013). Individual and collective impacts and residents’ perceptions of tourism. Tourism Geographies: An International Journal of Tourism Space, Place & Environment. Doi 10.1080/14616688.2012.762690.

  • Lankford, S.V., & Howard, D.R. (1994). Developing a tourism attitude impact scale. Annals of Tourism Research, 24(1), 121-139.

  • Mansfeld, Y. (1992). Group-differentiated perceptions of social impacts related to tourism development. Professional Geographer, 44(4), 377-392.

  • McKinlay, A. and Potter, J. (1987). Social representations: a conceptual critique. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 17: 4,470-487.

  • McGehee, N., & Andereck, K. (2004). Factors predicting rural residents’ support of tourism. Journal of Travel Research, 43, 131-140.

  • McCool, S., & Martin, S. (1994). Community attachment and attitudes toward tourism development. Journal of Travel Research, 32(2), 29-34.

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

  • Nature Conservation and Research Centre. (2008). Community-based ecotourism projects phase II. Annual progress report.

  • Nelson, F. (2004). The evolution and impacts of community-based ecotourism in northern Tanzania. London: International Institute for Environment and Development.

  • Perdue, R., Long, T., & Allen, L. (1990). Resident support for tourism development. Annals of Tourism Research, 17, 586-599.

  • Ross, S., & Wall, G. (1999). Evaluating ecotourism: The case of North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Tourism Management, 20, 673-682.

  • Sebele, L.S. (2010). Community-based tourism ventures, benefits and challenges: Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust, Central District, Botswana. Tourism Management, 31, 136-146.

  • Teye, V., Sonmez, S. F., & Sirakaya, E. (2002). Residents’ attitudes toward tourism development. Annals of Tourism Research, 29(3), 668-688.

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


Abstract Views: 362

PDF Views: 0




  • Residents’ Views on Benefits and Costs of Ecotourism Projects:A Study of Bobiri Forest and Butterfly Sanctuary in Ghana

Abstract Views: 362  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Gloria Owusu Sarpong
Department of Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, Ghana
Baaba Blankson
Department of Hospitality Management, Marshalls University College, Accra, Ghana
Collins Tuffour Britwum
School of Business, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana

Abstract


Sustainability of ecotourism projects has been a subject of interest to researchers around the world. Whilst tourism researchers advocate the need for constant monitoring and evaluation of tourism impacts, studies on residents’ perceptions on benefits and costs of ecotourism projects, especially in developing countries, remains under researched. This paper brings to the fore issues on residents views on the benefits and costs of ecotourism projects at Bobiri Forest and Butterfly Sanctuary in Ghana. Residents acknowledged the presence of both benefits and costs of ecotourism development. However, it was revealed that residents were much interested in the socio-economic and socio-cultural benefits of tourism. The study suggests that socio-demographic characteristics, native status, place of residence and length of stay influence residents’ perceptions of tourism. Statistically a significant difference was found between place of residence and economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts of tourism. It was concluded that for the goal of ecotourism development to be achieved, there is the need for residents’ views on the project to be considered and thereby involving residents in ecotourism development. The study recommends that a longitudinal study should be conducted on the impacts of tourism in the area and community participation must be wholly encouraged.

Keywords


Ecotourism, Impacts of Tourism, Community Involvement, Sustainability, Residents.

References