Assessment of Ecotourism Potentials in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

This paper asserts the case for developing the ecotourism potential in Afikpo, Ebonyi state. The main aim of the study is to assess the ecotourism potentials in Afikpo with a view to recommending means to enhance these potentials for development. The following objectives were underpinned (i) To examine the nature of tourism sites in Afikpo, (ii) To identify the potentials, (iii) To determine the extent, the potentials have been harnessed, (iv) To identify factors that hinders the potentials of tourism. The study adopted a survey design approach. Data was collected from both primary and secondary source through orals interview, questionnaire, and direct observation methods. Four hundred questionnaires were administered in the three communities that were selected for this study. The sample size of 400 respondents was determined from the sample population of 130,329 resident’s population of Afikpo north using De Vaus Formula. Three hundred and eighty (380) were returned representing 95% questionnaire utilization. Simple random sampling and a purposive sampling techniques were employed to select the respondents who were the residents. The study identified factors that hinder tourism development in Afikpo and a breakdown showed that four out of the thirty one (31) variables were identified as the major factors that hinder the development of potential tourist sites. The findings revealed that lack of political will was the most prominent factor responsible for the undeveloped sites. This was followed by political bureaucracy, and political instability. The study therefore recommended amongst others the intervention of the government in the development of the tourism potentials in Afikpo, Ebonyi State.