Challenges and Risks in Ecotourism Management: Issues and Opportunities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63385/etsd.v1i2.197Keywords:
Ecotourism, Ecotourist Destination, Tourism Development, Mass TourismAbstract
Ecotourism has been identified as among the bedrocks of tourism development in some parts of Africa. These include nations in eastern Africa, southern Africa and part of western Africa. These countries have over the years, leveraged on the opportunities of ecotourism to compete favourably in the global tourism market. However, various issues and challenges have undermined these huge opportunities of ecotourism for tourism development in a place. This study is aimed at examining some of these challenges and recommending various measures that can be applied to promote sustainable ecotourism development in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. The study used field observation and key informant interview approaches in qualitative research. It also adopted a literature method to understand the literary contributions to the subject matter. Identified challenges were classified under environmental, social and economic challenges. The study also considered risks associated with mass tourism in ecotourist destinations. At the end various measures were recommended to facilitate sustainable ecotourism management in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. The study has implications for sustainable ecotourism management in Africa, especially those places with huge ecotourism opportunities, but with less capacity for sustainable management. This is imperative hence ecotourism derives a fair share of the economic fortunes of those nations.
References
[1]Nwankwo, E.A., 2020. Basics of tourism and hospitality operations. University of Nigeria Press: Nsukka, Nigeria.
[2]Huang, X., Dai, S., Xu, H., 2020. Predicting tourists’ health risk preventative behaviour and travelling satisfaction in Tibet: Combining the theory of planned behaviour and health belief model. Tourism Management Perspectives. 33, 100589. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2019.100589
[3]Warinda, P., Mhonda, L., Kodzanai, T.A., et al., 2024. Ecotourism in Zimbabwe: The Challenges of Balancing Social, Economic and Environmental Goals. In: Sharma, D., Abdullah, H., Singh, P. (Eds.). Sustainable Tourism, Part B. Emerald Publishing Limited. pp. 19–43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83608-326-920241002
[4]Rahman, M.M., Haque, A., 2024. Analysis of Tourists’ Risk Perceptions in Tour Destination Selection: Bangladesh Ecotourism Perspective. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites. 56(4), 1493–1503. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.56406-1320
[5]Nwankwo, E.A., 2017. Fundamentals of tourism studies. University of Nigeria Press: Nsukka, Nigeria.
[6]Doganer, S., Dupont, W., 2013. Cultural heritage tourism and authenticity: San Antonio Missions Historic District. In Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Heritage Architecture, New Forest, UK, 25–27 June 2013; pp. 15–27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2495/STR130021
[7]Boonzaaier, C., Wels, H., 2018. Authenticity lost? The significance of cultural villages in the conservation of heritage in South Africa. Journal of Heritage Tourism. 13(2), 181–193. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1743873X.2017.1284851
[8]EL-Refai, S., EL-Habashi, A., 2021. Pilgrimage Sites—Heritage Sites: The Evaluation of Authenticity of Selected Cases. ERJ. Engineering Research Journal. 44(2), 233–244. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/erjm.2021.56081.1062
[9]Boccardi, A., Ciappei, C., Zollo, L., et al., 2016. The Role of Heritage and Authenticity in the Value Creation of Fashion Brand. International Business Research. 9(7), 135. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/ibr.v9n7p135
[10]Jokilehto, J., 2019. Questions of authenticity. Conversaciones. 8, 55–72. Available from: https://www.iccrom.org/sites/default/files/publications/2020-05/convern8_02_jjokilehto_ing.pdf
[11]Guerra, T., Moreno, P., Araújo De Almeida, A.S., et al., 2022. Authenticity in industrial heritage tourism sites: Local community perspectives. European Journal of Tourism Research. 32, 3208. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54055/ejtr.v32i.2379
[12]Champion, E.M., 2021. Preserving Authenticity in Virtual Heritage. In: Champion, E.M. (Ed.). Virtual Heritage: A Concise Guide. Ubiquity Press, pp. 129–137. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/bck.l
[13]Naumov, N., Green, D., 2015. Mass tourism. In: Jafari, J., Xiao, H. (Eds.). Encyclopaedia of tourism. Springer: New York, NY, USA.
[14]Hernandez-Maskivker, G., Fornells, A., Teixido-Navarro, F., et al., 2021. Exploring mass tourism impacts on locals: A comparative analysis between Barcelona and Sevilla. European Journal of Tourism Research. 29, 2908. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54055/ejtr.v29i.2427
[15]Hasan, M.K., Ismail, A.R., Islam, Md.F., 2017. Tourist risk perceptions and revisit intention: A critical review of literature. Cogent Business & Management. 4(1), 1412874. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2017.1412874
[16]Hu, Q.Z., 2011. Guest review of risk perception. Business Culture. 8, 331–332.
[17] Fuchs, G., Reichel, A., 2011. An exploratory inquiry into destination risk perceptions and risk reduction strategies of first time vs. repeat visitors to a highly volatile destination. Tourism Management. 32(2), 266–276. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2010.01.012
[18]Nwankwo, E.A., Halilu, A., 2016. Sustainable Wildlife Conservation at Okomu National Park. Ottoman Journal of Tourism and Management Research. 1(1), 101–118. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26465/ojtmr.2016132258
[19]Weaver, D.B., 2005. Comprehensive and minimalist dimensions of ecotourism. Annals of Tourism Research. 32(2), 439–455. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2004.08.003
[20]De witt, L., 2001. An ecotourism model for South African National Park [PhD’s thesis]. North-West University South Africa: Vanderbijlpark, South Africa.
[21] Loon, R.M., Polakow, D., 2001. Ecotourism ventures. Annals of Tourism Research. 28(4), 892–907. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-7383(00)00079-7
[22]Das, M., Chatterjee, B., 2015. Ecotourism: A panacea or a predicament? Tourism Management Perspectives. 14, 3–16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2015.01.002
[23]Choudhary, R., 2019. Ecotourism opportunities and its challenges in India and adjacent.
[24]Samdin, Z., Abdullah, S.I.N.W., Khaw, A., et al., 2022. Travel risk in the ecotourism industry amid COVID-19 pandemic: ecotourists’ perceptions. Journal of Ecotourism. 21(3), 266–294. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2021.1938089
[25]Neger, C., 2022. Ecotourism in crisis: an analysis of the main obstacles for the sector’s economic sustainability. Journal of Ecotourism. 21(4), 311–333. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2021.1942019
[26]Zvaigzne, A., Litavniece, L., Dembovska, I., 2022. Tourism seasonality: the causes and effects. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes. 14(5), 421–430. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-07-2022-0080
Downloads
PDF
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Elochukwu Amaechi Nwankwo, Chinonye Emilia Kayode
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
