Sustainable Tourism Photos in Badagryree

Proceedings of the 3rd Regional Conference on Tourism Research, 29-31 Oct, 2013, Langkawi, Malaysia.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN BADAGRY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA (IMPACT AND CHALLENGES)

BYAnyafulu Aninoritse, Anyafulu Latifat & Okunlola Gabriel

Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Management Department, Yaba College of Technology. Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Corresponding author’s email: [email protected]

ABSTRACTTourism has become a major international industry with many countries all over the world relying on the income it generates. For this reason, many countries recognise tourism as a vehicle for economic development and as such sustainability has become an essential requirement for tourism development. The need for sustainable tourism development in Badagry local government area of Lagos state cannot be overstressed because today, Badagry has an array of vast tourism resources that has little or no significant impact on the lives of people nor has sufficient influence on the local economy. This paper explores the possible impact as well as the challenges of sustainable tourism development in Badagry. A total of 120 questionnaires were distributed to respondents consisting of tourists and people in the community, using simple percentage analysis, findings revealed that the possible impact of sustainable tourism development are enormous, findings further revealed that inadequate infrastructure, funding and promotion, insufficient local community and private sector participation with insecurity and safety concerns are all challenges of sustainable tourism development in Badagry. In view of the identified challenges, it is suggested that adequate funding and provision of infrastructure by government is necessary to aid sustainable tourism development in Badagry. Local community participation should be greatly encouraged as it is a way to establish a sense of belonging which is crucial to sustainable tourism development in any community.

Keywords: sustainability, tourism resources, sustainable tourism development

mailto:[email protected]


1 INTRODUCTION Tourism is recognized as one of the world’s largest industries and a major socio-economic activity of the world. United Nations World Tourism Organization UNWTO (2011) acknowledges tourism as a key driver of business and employment generation globally (Mc Minns, 1997). In 2010, tourism was responsible for 940 million of total world`s arrivals and an estimated $919 million USD of total receipts from world’s travels. It employs one in every nine workers and contributes about 6% of global gross profits; this has been a remarkable socio-economic expansion since the post world war II era (Weaver, 2006). Sustainable development recognizes tourism as a driving force for development, good sustainable development programmes should include sustainable tourism strategies that help to sustain the environment and protect it from depreciation by encouraging the use of renewable energy and recycling, establishing carrying capacity guidelines and enforcing it, protecting and conserving endangered species, flora and fauna, reforestation programmes, enforcing laws against poaching and logging in forest area and national parks, promoting local culture by selling local products produced through local techniques, educating both tourists and indigenous people on how to promote sustainable tourism habits especially in protected areas, reinvesting profits back into local communities and ensuring that there is local involvement in management and ownership of tourist facilities. Sustainable tourism, its impact and challenges in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State are the main focus of this paper.

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Lascurain (1996) defined sustainable tourism as tourism that is developed and managed in such a way that all tourism activity which in some way focuses on heritage resources (natural or cultural) can be continued indefinitely. Cooper et al (2005) gave the definition of sustainable tourism as given by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) as meeting the needs of present tourist and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future. Holloway (2006) defined sustainable tourism as attempting to make as low an impact on the environment and local culture as possible, while helping to generate future employment for local people, it was in line with this that Holloway stated that the aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development brings a positive experience for local people, tourism companies and tourists themselves. Kuhn (2007) argued that sustainable tourism development is concerned with management practices designed to exploit resources in such a manner that allows equitable development for various groupings of people in the present while protecting the resource base for use by the future generations. Sustainable tourism guidelines and management practices are applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations including mass tourism and various niche tourism segments. Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant monitoring of impacts and introducing the necessary preventive and / or corrective measures wherever necessary, this becomes imperative considering the enormous benefits of sustainable tourism practices

2.2 HISTORY OF BADAGRYBadagry, the ancient city which was founded precisely in 1425 A.D is a land of mixed origins and the adopted homeland of countless immigrants, African traders & missionaries (Apata, 2012). Badagry is located along the ancient slave coast of West Africa with it citizens mainly engaging in farming, fishing and salt making and by the 1600s, this ancient city became a


thriving community reputed for trade in salt and saltpetre, but this legitimate trade soon gave way to the obnoxious slave trade and for its 400 years of existence, slave trade dominated all other interests / businesses in Badagry (Husitode, 2013). By the year 1740, Badagry had become a thriving town for its sole industry. “The slave trade”, slaves were exported through the creeks, lagoons and across the Atlantic. Liberation from slavery started from Denmark in 1802, Britain in 1807 & France in 1818 through legislations but regardless of the several European legislations the trade did not stop in Badagry even after the signing of multiple treaties for abolition of human trafficking and their commercializing. It was in July, 1863 that the treaty of cession was signed ceding Badagry in to the hands of the British. Being the first community in Nigeria to have contact with the Europeans, Badagry is regarded as the cradle of western civilization in Nigeria. According to Husitode (2013), Badagry forms an important part of the Nigerian history for the following reasons:1) The British flag, (Union Jack) was first hoisted on the soil of Badagry in 1843.2) The architectural evolution of Nigeria started right in Badagry in 1845 when the first

ever storey building was built by Rev. C. Golmer as a Vicarage for early missionaries.3) Western Education took its root in Badagry in 1843 with the establishment of the first

elementary school in Nigerian called Nursery of the Infant church by the church missionary society (CMS).

4) The first agricultural school in Nigeria was established by the Roman Catholic missionaries on Topo Island, Badagry in 1876.

5) 1893 saw the birth of the first ever teacher`s training college in Nigeria on the same Island of Topo by the Roman Catholic missionaries

6) The first idea of international law in Nigeria was generated in Badagry when Richard Lander, one of the earliest British explorers to Badagry was tried in 1825; his trial was the first trial of an alien in Nigeria. He was accused of treason, a crime punishable by death.

2.3 TOURISM RESOURCES IN BADAGRY Apata (2012) stated that Badagry is the haven of tourism in Nigeria with various historic sites and beautify scenery, varied in locations and enchanting to visit, he highlighted the following tourism resources in Badagry:

SERIKI ABASS WILLIAM BRAZILIAN BARRACCOONBarraccoon means a slave cell or prison. The Brazilian barracoon was established in the 1840’s by Seriki Abass William, a liberated slave who returned along with others in 1839 and according to Anago (2012), the barracoon consisted of 40 slaves’ cells and two of cells have been converted to museum by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

BADAGRY HERITAGE MUSEUM This museum is situated at the Boekoh quarters along Lander road, GRA, Marina Badagry. The building was built in 1863 and used as the district office till 1958, it was eventually converted to a museum in August 2001and according to Ajose (2008) the museum contains the most comprehensive collection of Trans-Atlantic slave trade items in Nigeria. It consists of several galleries namely: Introduction, capture, resistance and punishment, industry, facilitators, equipment, abolitionist and the Badagry galleries.

VLEKETE SLAVE MARKET This is one of the oldest markets in West Africa established in 1502 for the purpose of sorting and selling of slaves. Also Richard Lander was tried in 1825 by a traditional jury at a


shrine situated within the market from which the market derived its name Vlekete. This is now an evening market as well as a tourist center.FIRST STOREY BUILDINGThe first storey building in Nigeria is located at Boekoh Quarters, Marina. It was built by Rev. C. Golmer. The estimated cost of the building in 1845 was 325 pounds. Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowder translated the English bible to Yoruba in this house in 1846.

THE AGIA TREE MONUMENTLocated at Soglo way, Awhanijigoh Quarters, the legendary Agia tree lived for about 350 years; it stood at the heart of the town beside the present Badagry town hall. It was at this site that the gospel of Christianity was first preached in Nigeria and it was also the venue of the first Christmas. The tree was fallen by a rain storm on 20th June, 1959. A monument now stands in its place (Ajose, 2008).

EARLY MISSIONARY CEMETERYIt is located along general hospital road opposite the Muslim grammar school. The cemetery was founded in 1863 for the purpose of burying missionaries that worked & died in Badagry.

CANNON GUNS These are metal war instruments used by the slave traders to wage wars so as to raid and capture people as slaves for sale and each Cannon gun was exchanged for 100 slaves. The cannons were also used in the abolition of slave trade. They can be found in front of Wawu compound in Badagry.

The above are just few of the many tourism resources in Badagry, others include: The point of no return, Suntan Beach, Badagry Slave Well, Ganho Slave Dungeon, Badagry Cultural Festival, Sato Festival etc.

3 METHODOLOGY The analysis of this paper is based on primary data collection, a well structured questionnaire was self administered to 120 respondents using the random sampling technique from six tourist attractions in Badagry local government area of Lagos State: Badagry Heritage Museum, Vlekete slave market, first story building, the Agia tree monument, early missionary cemetery and cannon guns. Twenty respondents were randomly selected from each tourist site for the study. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS 19.

4 RESULTS AND FINDINGS The demographic and socio-economic characteristics of respondents was presented in section A. Out of the 120 respondents selected, 100% of the respondents filled their questionnaires completely. The results showed 32% were female and 68% were male, about 37% of the respondents were married while 50% were single 14% were widowed and divorced. 55% of the respondents had HND/BSc and MSc qualifications, 15% had National Diplomas. This implies that majority of the respondent are sufficiently educated to provide knowledgeable responses to questions asked.


TABLE 1: Impact of sustainable tourism development in Badagry

VARIABLE/PARAMETR SA (%) A (%) D (%) SD (%) U (%)

Preservation of Natural Resources 58(48.3) 54 (45.0) 8(6.7) 0(0.0) 0(0.0)

Entertainment and Appreciation of Local Tourism 58(48.3) 56(46.7) 4(3.3) 0(0.0) 2(1.7)

Creation of Jobs 32(26.7) 62(51.7) 12(10.0) 10(8.3) 4(3.3)

Foreign Exchange Earnings 4(3.3) 10(8.3) 34(28.3) 58(48.3) 14(11.7)

Development of Infrastructure 6(5.0) 18(15.0) 36(30.0) 54(45.0) 6(5.0)Direct Financial Contribution to Conserve Natural

Environment 26(21.7) 60(50.0) 12(10.0) 12(10.0) 10(8.3)

FIGURE 1: Impact of sustainable tourism development (cumulative %)

Table 1 shows the actual impact of sustainable tourism on Badagry Local Government Area. The result showed that sustainable tourism impacts, on preservation of Natural resources, entertainment and appreciation of local tourism and creation of jobs is significant at between 72% - 95% while its contribution to on foreign exchange earnings as well as development of infrastructure is very low at 12% and 20% respectively.

Table 2: Challenges of sustainable tourism development in Badagry

Challenges SA (%) A (%) D (%) SD (%) U (%)

Inadequate Infrastructure 62(51.7) 48(40.0) 2(1.7) 2(1.7) 6(5.0)

Security and Safety Concerns 30(25.0) 50(41.7) 24(20.0) 10(8.3) 6(5.0)

Inadequate Promotion 52(43.3) 56(46.7) 4(3.3) 4(3.3) 4(3.3)Insufficient Local Community Participation 44(36.7) 52(43.3) 10(8.3) 6(5.0) 8(6.7)

Insufficient Private Sector Participation 62(51.7) 48(40.0) 4(3.3) 4(3.3) 2(1.7)

Inadequate Funding 56(46.7) 54(45.0) 2(1.7) 4(3.3) 4(3.3)

Inaccessible Tourist Destinations 50(41.7) 34(28.3) 20(16.7) 10(8.3) 6(5.0)


Figure 2: Challenges of sustainable tourism development in Badagry (cumulative %)

Table 2 measured the challenges of sustainable tourism development in Badagry Local Government Area, the result showed inadequate infrastructure, insufficient private sector participation and inadequate funding occupying the highest level of significance at 92%, next came the issues of inadequate promotion, insufficient local community participation, inaccessible tourist and security and safety concerns with 90%, 80%, 70% and 67% respectively.

Table 3: Existing preservation strategies in BadagryExisting Preservation

strategies SA (%) A (%) D (%) SD (%) U(%)By Controlling Number of

Visitors to each Tourist Attraction (Carrying Capacity) 36(30.0) 52(43.3) 10(8.3) 16(13.3) 6(5.0)

By Enforcing all Standard Regulations on Park

Maintenance 38(31.7) 64(53.3) 4(3.3) 10(8.3) 4(3.3By Creating Awareness

Programs on Importance of Maintaining Tourism Resources

(Through Seminars, Public Campaigns etc.) 38(31.7) 50(41.7) 14(11.7) 16(13.3) 2(1.7)

Re-Investing Some of the Profits Back into Development Programs for Tourism

Attractions 60(50.0) 38(31.7) 6(5.0) 12(10.0) 4(3.3)


Figure 3: Existing preservation strategies in Badagry (cumulative %)

Table 3 measured the existing preservation method for tourism resources in Badagry, result showed between 82% - 85% using enforcement of park regulations as well as ploughing back profits generated from tourism activities into park development as preservation methods while the other two methods carrying capacity and creating awareness programmes scored 73%.

Table 4: Strategies for further sustenance in Badagry

Strategies for further sustenance SA (%) A (%) D (%) SD (%) U (%)

Setting of Carrying Capacity 46(38.3) 68(56.7) 2(1.7) 0(0.0) 4(3.3)

Educating Tourist on Sustainable Tourism Habits 44(36.7) 74(61.7) 0(0.0) 2(1.7) 0(0.0)Re-Investing More of the Profits Back to the Local

Community 60(50.0) 48(40.0) 4(3.3) 6(5.0) 2(1.7)

Encouraging Production and use of Local Products 50(41.7) 54(45.0) 6(5.0) 8(6.7) 2(1.7)

Employing Local Residents in Tourist Destinations 68(56.7) 50(41.7) 2(1.7) 0(0.0) 0(0.0)Enforcing Working Regulations e.g. Paid Holidays, Maximum Working Week and Livable Income Host

Community 42(35.0) 64(53,3) 4(3.3) 8(6.7) 2(1.7)

Promoting Local Culture e.g. Dance, Dressing Food 68(56.7) 44(36.7) 2(1.7) 2(1.7) 4(3.3)


Figure 4: Strategies for further sustenance in Badagry (cumulative %)

Table 4 measured the strategies for further preservation (sustenance) of tourism resources in Badagry local government area. The result showed educating tourists as well as employing local residents shows the highest with 98%. All other measures were also very relevant with an average of 87 – 95% scores.

Table 5: Role (s) of Government in tourism sustenance

Role (s) of Government in tourism sustenance SA (%) A (%) D (%) SD (%) U (%)Encourage Active Participation of Local Community 72(60.0) 36(30.0) 4(3.3) 6(5.0) 2(1.7)

Ensure Tourism Manpower Development 54(45.0) 56(46.7) 2(1.7) 4(3.3) 4(3.3)

Provision of Infrastructure 72(60.0) 36(30.0) 2(1.7) 4(3.3) 6(5.0)

Active Participation of Private Investors 80(66.7) 34(28.3) 2(1.7) 0(0.0) 4(3.3)

Creation of Tourism Awareness Programs 66(55.0) 30(25.0) 18(15.0) 2(1.7) 4(3.3)

Implementation of the Tourism Policy 80(66.7) 32(26.7) 4(3.3) 2(1.7) 2(1.7)

Enforcement of Carrying Capacity in Tourist Sites 66(55.0) 44(36.7) 4(3.3) 4(3.3) 2(1.7)

Adequate Funding 80(66.7) 28(23.3) 6(5.0) 4(3.3) 2(1.7)


Figure 5: Role(s) of Government in tourism sustenance

Table 5 measured the role(s) of Government in ensuring sustainable tourism in Badagry local Government Area. The result showed all the variables ranking very high at 80 – 93%, with advice for active participation of private investors recording the highest at 95%.

5 DISCUSSIONS From the study it is obvious that tourism resources in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State have been sustained for several centuries through sustainable tourism management practices, this in turn impacts on the environment in the areas of entertainment and appreciation of local culture, direct financial contributions to conserve and preserve natural resources and creation of jobs for the citizens of Badagry hence it can be concluded that Badagry can continue to benefit from sustainable tourism practices, it corroborates the assertion of Holloway (2006) who argued that the aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development brings a positive experience for local people, tourism companies and tourists themselves. However the challenges of sustainable tourism in Badagry are enormous with inadequate infrastructure, insufficient private investor participation and inadequate funding ranking very high at 92%. Thus when inadequate funding exists then infrastructure cannot be provided, this also affects the implementation of other sustainable tourism strategies. This study also shows that when guidelines for preserving tourists’ attractions are upheld by managers of tourists’ destinations, then they will be preserved in their natural form for future generations to explore thus confirming the claims as made by Kuhn (2007) stating that sustainable tourism development is concerned with management practices designed to exploit resources in such a manner that allows equitable development for various groupings of people in the present while protecting the resource base for use by the future generations. 6 CONCLUSIONSSustainable tourism in Badagry Local Government should be a project that the state government should be interested in because of the various tourism products available, if they are harnessed together it will in no small way contribute to the development of the


community socially, economically and thus stimulate infrastructural development. This can only be achieved if the identified challenges are tackled with a strong political will.7 RECOMMENDATIONSSustainable tourism in Badagry will have the expected impact if the following recommendations can be looked into and implemented as identified in the study.

1. Government of Lagos State should improve on the funding of the industry, to give room for adequate provision of infrastructure.

2. Conducive business environment should be provided by the state for private partnership participation in providing infrastructure and essential facilities required by the tourist

3. Continuous and active participation of local community in planning of tourist destinations as well as employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled labour.

4. Though there is relative peace and security within the Badagry Local Government Area, efforts should be made to improve on the security on the highway to the community.

5. The quality of infrastructure and staff to be provided should meet with international standards.

6. Efforts at promoting the tourist products in Badagry should be improved through various media such as creation of souvenir markets, active use of the social media etc.

REFERENCES

Ajose, B., 2008, Welcome to Badagry: The haven of tourism, Badagry: African Renaissance foundation.

Anago, A., 2012, Brazilian Barracoon of Seriki Abass Williams, Unpublished Raw DataApata, S., 2012, Think Tourism: Visit Badagry, Unpublished Raw DataCooper, C., Fletcher, J., Fyall, A., Gilbert, D., Wanhill, S., 2005, Tourism Principles and

Practices, (3rd Ed)., England: Pearson Education.Holloway, J., 2006, The Business of Tourism, (7thEd.), Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann.Husitode, M., 2013, Badagry: A virgin Land for Tourism Investments and the Tourism

Development Plans for Badagry Local Government, Unpublished Report presented at the All African Nations Achievement Awards Gala USA: Houston Texas.

Kuhn, L., 2007, Sustainable Tourism as Emergent Discourse: World Futures, Journal of General Evolution, 63(3): 286-295.

Lascurain, H, 1996, Tourism, Ecotourism and Protected areas: The state of Nature based tourism, Retrieved July 20, 2013 from. http://books.google.com.my/books? Id= 8WGtTSYsNIwC & printsec = frontcover & source = gbs_ge_summary_r&cad = O#v=onepage&q&f=false.

Mc Minns, S., 1997, The Challenges of Sustainable Tourism, The Environmentalist 17(2): 133-141

UNWTO, 2011, Why Tourism: An Economic and Social Phenomenon, Madrid Retrieved July 20, 2013 from http: //unwto.org/en/content/why-tourism.

Weaver, D., 2006, Sustainable Tourism, Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann.

http://books.google.com.my/books


THE BRAZILIAN BARRACOON

BADAGRY HERITAGE MUSEUM

THE FIRST STOREY BUILDING IN NIGERIA

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