EVALUATING THE TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED BY THE GURARA AND MAYANKA WATERFALLS IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract:
Assessing Tourism Potentials of Gurara and Mayanka Waterfalls in Niger State, Nigeria
Niger State boasts a range of captivating tourist sites, with Gurara and Mayanka waterfalls standing out prominently. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the tourism prospects offered by Gurara and Mayanka waterfalls in Niger State, Nigeria. The primary data sources encompassed the distribution of questionnaires, conducting oral interviews, and carrying out reconnaissance surveys. Secondary data, comprising scholarly articles, textbooks, conference materials, and official documents from the Niger State Government on tourism within the study areas, were also employed to fulfill the study’s objectives. Data analysis involved computing frequency percentages, arithmetic means, and utilizing a four-point rating scale.
The findings revealed that Gurara waterfall is a magnet for both Nigerians and foreigners, while Mayanka waterfall primarily attracts Nigerians, as indicated by the respondents. Notably, the “strongly agreed” category garnered the highest responses, with 164 respondents, while there were no disagreements regarding Gurara waterfalls. Conversely, concerning Mayanka waterfall, the “disagree” category ranked highest with 64 respondents, while the “strongly disagree” category received the fewest responses at 42. Furthermore, the results unveiled that 189 respondents strongly concur with the presence of a tourism master plan for Gurara waterfall, whereas 116 respondents firmly disagree regarding the existence of a tourism master plan for Mayanka waterfall. This highlights that Gurara waterfall possesses a tourism master plan, although its implementation remains notably insufficient.
Several potential constraints to tourism were identified in the study areas, encompassing a lack of political will, strategic marketing, promotional programs, and the development of event-based products such as festivals. “Lack of political will” was the primary constraint, gathering the highest response count at 110, with “lack of promotional programs” being the least cited, accounting for 46 respondents. Notably, the most significant constraint was attributed to the absence of political will towards promoting tourism in the sites.
Presently, the tourist attractions at Gurara and Mayanka Waterfalls in Niger State are relatively underdeveloped, and on-site accommodations are scarce. This deficiency adversely affects tourism, as visitors are compelled to curtail their stays. As a remedy, it is recommended that the potential for tourism at Gurara and Mayanka Waterfalls can be realized through enhanced collaboration and coordination among key stakeholders, including tourism investors, the Niger State Government, host communities, and local authorities.
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