TOURISM MOTIVATION AND LIVELIHOOD STRATEGIES AMONG RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA
Main Article Content
Keywords
Tourism, livelihood strategies, tourism motivation, rural households, livelihoods
Abstract
The study examined the influence of tourism motivation factors on livelihood strategies of host people. The study area was Osun State. One tourism festival specific town from each of the three senatorial districts was purposively selected based on highest patronage and most famous. Egungun festival - Iwo (July, 2018), Osun Osogbo festival - Osogbo (August, 2018), and Baba funfun festival - Imesi- Ile (April, 2018) from Osun West, Central, and East Senatorial Districts respectively. Purposive sampling technique was used to select four hundred and fifty respondents, one hundred and fifty each from each festival. The results revealed that there is significant difference in the abilities of push and pull factors on livelihood strategies of the host people (t = 41.901, p<0.05). The results also showed significant relationships between push factors (relaxation (r = 0.2330), economic power (r = 0.4238), prestige/caste (r = 0.3748), and worship (r = 0.1484) while the same position was observed on pull factors (clement weather (r = 0.3112), pristine culture (r = 0.3660), adventure (r = 0.3348), journey thrill (r = 0.2437), scenery (r = 0.2912), entertainments (r = 0.3712), cuisines (r = 0.2731), souvenirs (r = 0.4111). However, family ties (r = -0.2679) showed negative significant correlation. Regression coefficients of six pull factors; clement weather (b = 1.311), pristine culture (b = 1.389), adventure (b = 1.707), entertainments (b = 1.252), cuisines (b = 1.792), souvenirs (b = 1.6731) and three push factors (official obligation (b = -0.3138), prestige/caste (b = 1.509), relaxation/fun (b = 1.655)) significantly contributed to the unit change in livelihood strategies of the host people. The study concluded that tourism motivation factors contributed to livelihood strategies of the host people. It was recommended that stakeholders should reinforce the facilities in both tangible and intangible terms to accommodate the urge of tourists and even expand the need threshold for improved patronage that will translate to more livelihood strategies for the teeming host population.