THE TOURISM POTENTIAL OF RELIGIOUS SITES IN LAGOS AND OGUN STATES, NIGERIA

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Date
2013
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Abstract
The study identified the location and characteristics of religious sites in Lagos and Ogun states; determined the patronage frequency and factors affecting the patronage of the selected religious sites; examined the relationship between the volume of patronage and socio-economic characteristics of visitors to the selected religious sites; assessed the tourism potential of the selected sites, and developed a model/framework for religious tourism planning. This was with a view to providing models and policy framework that will enhance the development of tourism industry in Nigeria. Primary and secondary data were utilized for the study. Study population was fifteen religious sites, of which seven were in Lagos State (three Christian, one Islamic and three Traditional); and eight in Ogun state (five Christian, one Islamic and two Traditional). The two Islamic sites were selected, and a Christian and Traditional religions were purposively selected in each site. The sites selected were Nasrul-Lahi-il Fathi (NASFAT), National Council for Muslim Youth Organisation (NACOMYO), Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Redemption Camp, Olofin and Oronna Shrines. Questionnaires were administered on one out of every tenth visitor in each of the six selected sites. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that SCOAN is located in Alimosho Area Council, NACOMYO and Olofin shrine in Ikeja and Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State. Oronna shrine is located in Egbado-North, while Redemption Camp and NASFAT are located in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State. Redemption Camp had the highest volume of visitation with 1,500,000 visitors during convention, and Olofin shrine had the lowest volume of 7,000 visitors during Olofin festival. Spiritual refreshing was the major trip purpose accounting for 52.2%, this was followed by sight-seeing (37.5%) and healing (10.3%).Correlation matrix of volume of visitation and visitors’ characteristics showed that household size (r = 0.24, p < 0.05) and amount spent on feeding (r = 0.03, p < 0.05) by visitors at the selected sites significantly influenced visitation level. The Chi-Square test on volume of visitation and visitors’ satisfaction on existing facilities showed that a significant relationship existed in Islamic (x2=15.288, p<0.05) and Traditional (x2=13.786, p<0.05) sites, in Christian sites (x2=6.58, p>0.05) the relationship was not significant. Logistic regression model for all the selected sites showed that for marital status, the odds of single (0.348, p < 0.05) and widowed (0.255, p < 0.05) were significantly less likely to have repeated their visits than married visitors. The developed framework for religious tourism planning showed that Redemption Camp had the highest tourism potential with Mean Index of 3.30 while Oronna Shrine had the lowest (Mean Index=2.77) The study concluded that visitors’ satisfaction, household size, marital status, and amount spent on feeding were important factors in determining the visitation level of the selected religious sites. All the selected sites had adequate potentials to develop into enviable tourism sites if accorded necessary attention.
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135p
Keywords
religious sites, volume of patronage, Ogun state, Primary and secondary data, SCOAN
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