ASSESSMENT OF SOCIO- ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN ODO-OWA, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

This study assessed the socio economic impact of tourist attractions in Odo Owa, Kwara State, Nigeria. A total of 80 copies of structured questionnaire was administered to collect information on socio economic characteristics of respondents using simple random technique. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in the analysis of the data. Percentages were used to explain the demographic and socio economic activities of the respondents while Chi Square was used to determine the relationship between the availability of attractions and the socioeconomic development of the community. The result of Chi-Square shows that there is no significant relationship between the location of the tourism potentials and socio economic development of the people in Odo-Owa. The study shows that tourism activity has not contributed to job creation, increased income and improved quality of life of the people in the study area. In addition, tourism activity has not contributed to the development of infrastructural facilities in the area. The study recommends that the relevant private organizations and government agencies should be encouraged to promote tourism activities in the area. This encouragement can come in form of incentives such as tax rebate and physical development of the area