ASSESSMENT OF TOURISM POTENTIALS IN IJEBU REGION, OGUN STATE

ABSTRACT Tourism as an agent of development, leads to a lot of benefits, Nigeria as a country richly endowed with a wide range of cultural and natural resources relative to other nation‟s in Africa and on a global level, most of which are largely untapped. There are many approaches to assess these resource potentials of which studies have been done in some parts of the world. But despite the availability of these potentials in Ijebu region, the level of tourist influx still remains low, which forms the basis of this study. The abounding potentials for tourism Ijebu region of Ogun state were assessed using Ijebu East (Yemoji tourist center Tapped) and Ijebu North (Imodi Mosan sacred groove Untapped) as a sampling to represent other tapped and untapped tourism potentials in the region. The objectives of the study were to assess: tourism resources and attractions in Ijebu region, existing tourism spots in Ijebu region, level of development of attraction spots in the region, Determine the untapped tourism potentials in the and the challenges and opportunities of tourism in the study area. The methods used for data collection were; direct observations, Investigation guide for tourist spot officials and questionnaire administration. Visits were made to tourism board in Ogun State to obtain secondary data, in order to provide background knowledge on the tourist attractions in the states. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics: percentages, frequencies, and bar charts and statistical tool for testing of hyphothesis. According to the study on the level of tourism potentials development in Ijebu region, it was discovered that 67.4% of the tourism potentials were on developing level. More than average of the tourism potentials in Ijebu region are not developed which were categorized under developing, Part of the developed potentials were underdeveloped and abandoned. Ijebu region is blessed with nature like the Yemoji natural pool, Omo forest reserve, Ebute Oni beach, Imodi mosan Sacre groove, Ijebu Ife Cave, Ijebu Ife Caves and more. If these natural attractions are developed it will boost to the region economy just like the Olumo rock. The result shows that people enjoys local festival for its cultural promotion and colourful event like Ojude Oba festival. The tourist centres are likely to be recommended at 65.5%. majority of the respondents only spent a day and less than a day in the tourist spot, this may be due to lack of facilities like accommodation the areas are clean and good hygiene is practiced. According to the study, in Ijebu region there are events and festival that can be promoted to bring about development to the region as a tourism attraction.