Drivers Influencing Customers’ Visitation Patterns to Ecolodges: A Case Study of Cross River State, Nigeria
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33003/jobasr
Gladys Imoagene.
Solomon Oisasoje Ayo-Odifiri.
Abstract
The natural habitat is unprecedentedly experiencing a detrimental impact on the
hospitality industry globally; hence, alternative practices such as ecolodges have
become inevitable eco-friendly tourism options. However, there is a shortage of
quantitative evidence of the drivers influencing customers’ visitation to
ecolodges, particularly OMR and CRNP in Cross River State, Nigeria. Drivers
influencing customer visitation and attractions to advance customer willingness
to revisit were investigated in this study. A convenience sampling technique was
employed to administer a structured questionnaire to the 635 tourists who have
spent at least a night at the studied ecolodges. Descriptive statistics and correlation
tests were used for the data analysis. From the results, better consideration of new
destinations, alluring cultural and historical landmarks, and enjoying local life and
customs were some notable influential push factors. The pull factors were
enjoying good physical amenities, landscape and wildlife conservation,
exploring, and learning about nature.
References
Adeyemi, A. A., Ibe, A. E., & Okedimma, F. C. (2015).
Tree structural and species diversities in Okwangwo
Forest, Cross River State, Nigeria. Journal of Research in
Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 7(2), 36-53.
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jrfwe/article/view/1250
58
Anwar, K. (2017). Analyzing the conceptual model of
service quality and its relationship with guests’
satisfaction: a study of hotels in Erbil. The International
Journal of Accounting and Business Society, 25(2), 1-16.
https://garuda.kemdikbud.go.id/documents/detail/23547
68
Anwuri, P. N. P., & Nzei, J. A. (2022). Digital marketing
initiative and business sustainability in the hospitality
industry in Rivers State, Nigeria. Zien Journal of Social
Sciences and Humanities, 4, 79-86.
https://zienjournals.com/index.php/zjssh/article/view/2
065
Aslan, A. (2014). Tourism development and economic
growth in the Mediterranean countries: Evidence from
panel Granger causality tests. Current issues in
Tourism, 17(4), 363-372.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2013.768607
Atuk, J. J., Sarki, L. H., Bashariya, B. M., & Ejeh, B.
(2020). Analysis of tourism destination components of
Zaria urban area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. FUDMA
Journal of Sciences, 4(2), 119-128.
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2020-0402-151
Awaritefe, O. (2004). Motivation and other
considerations in tourist destination choice: A case study
of Nigeria. Tourism Geographies, 6(3), 303-330.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1461668042000249638
Ban, J., Kim, H. J., Sheehan, B., & Prideaux, B. (2022).
How service quality and perceived value affect
behavioral intentions of ecolodge guests: The moderating
effect of prior visit. Journal of Vacation
Marketing, 28(2), 244-257.
https://doi.org/10.1177/13567667211042641
Bhakane, B. (2015). Effect of customer relationship
management on customer satisfaction and loyalty.
International Journal of Management (IJM), 6, 1-7.
https://ssrn.com/abstract=2618014
Boella, M. J., & Goss-Turner, S. (2013). Human resource
management in the hospitality industry: A guide to best
practice. Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203095584
Erol, G., Deliormanli, A., & Düşmezkalender, E. (2023).
A tourism accommodation perspective in a postpandemic nature-based tourism development context.
In The Routledge Handbook of Nature Based Tourism
Development (pp. 474-489). Routledge.
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/97
81003230748-34
Fung, C. K. W., & Jim, C. Y. (2015). Segmentation by
motivation of Hong Kong Global Geopark visitors in
relation to sustainable nature-based
tourism. International Journal of Sustainable
Development & World Ecology, 22(1), 76–88.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2014.999262
Gbenga, O. & Osotimehin, K. (2015). Determinants of
repeat buy in the hospitality industry: evidence from hotel
business in Lagos State. American Journal of Marketing
Research, 1(2), 20-27. https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/53652199/702100
102
Han, H. (2021). Consumer behavior and environmental
sustainability in tourism and hospitality: A review of
theories, concepts, and latest research. Sustainable
Consumer Behaviour and the Environment, 1-22.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003256274
Hapsari, R. (2018). Creating educational theme park
visitor loyalty: the role of experience-based satisfaction,
image and value. Tourism and hospitality management,
24(2), 359-274. https://doi.org/10.20867/thm.24.2.7
Harahsheh, S., Haddad, R., & Alshorman, M. (2020).
Implications of marketing Jordan as a Halal tourism
destination. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 11(1), 97-116.
https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-02-2018-0036
Hsu, T. K., Tsai, Y. F., & Wu, H. H. (2009). The
preference analysis for tourist choice of destination: A
case study of Taiwan. Tourism Management, 30(2), 288-
297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2008.07.011
Imoagene, G., Oladeji, S.O. and Adetola, B.O.(2021):
Socio-demographic characteristics and customers'
visitation pattern to selected ecolodges in Cross River
State, Nigeria. African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism
and Leisure, 10(4):1283-1301.
Ji, M., Guo, W., Chen, Z., & Morgan, N. (2023).
Managing tourist congestion: Insights from Chinese
package tours to the UK and Ireland. Current Issues in
Tourism, 26(5), 752-771.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2022.2037525
Karamehmedović, D. (2018). “Push-pull” analysis
towards creating holistic marketing of the cultural
heritage tourism destination: the case study of
Dubrovnik. Ekonomska misao i praksa, 27(1), 29-51.
https://hrcak.srce.hr/202271
Kassean, H., & Gassita, R. (2013). Exploring tourists’
‘push and pull’ motivations to visit Mauritius as a holiday
destination. Tourismos, 8(2), 39-56.
https://doi.org/10.26215/tourismos.v8i2.352
Khuong, M. N., & Quyen, N. P. (2016). Factors affecting
international tourists' perceived service quality and return
intention-a study in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Rev.
Eur. Stud., 8, 133. https://doi.org/10.5539/res.v8n3p133
Kukoyi, I. A & Ijose, O.A . (2023). Recreation and
Holiday Practices among Workers in Manufacturing
Companies in Nigeria. Global Journal of Management
and Business Research, 23(A3), 39–47.
https://hal.science/hal-04177798
Kwan, P., Eagles, P. F., & Gebhardt, A. (2010). Ecolodge
patrons' characteristics and motivations: A study of
Belize. Journal of Ecotourism, 9(1), 1-20.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14724040802140576
Lee, S., Lee, S., & Lee, G. (2014). Ecotourists’
motivation and revisit intention: A case study of restored
ecological parks in South Korea. Asia Pacific Journal of
Tourism Research, 19(11), 1327-1344.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2013.852117
Liu, C. H. S., Chou, S. F., & Lin, J. Y. (2021).
Implementation and evaluation of tourism industry:
Evidentiary case study of night market development in
Taiwan. Evaluation and Program Planning, 89, 101961.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2021.101961
Liu, Y. (2019). Impact of push and pull motivations on
outbound tourists’ intentions to visit sustainable tourism
destinations (Doctoral dissertation, Vilniaus
universitetas).
https://epublications.vu.lt/object/elaba:33716404/
Mutanga, C. N., Vengesayi, S., Chikuta, O., Muboko, N.,
& Gandiwa, E. (2017). Travel motivation and tourist
satisfaction with wildlife tourism experiences in
Gonarezhou and Matusadona National Parks, Zimbabwe.
Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 20, 1-18.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2017.08.001
Nneji, L. M., Adeola, A. C., Adedeji, B. E., Olatunde, O.,
Onadeko, A. B., Eniang, E. A., ... & Olory, C. S. (2021).
Species richness, distribution pattern, and conservation
status of amphibians in Cross River National Park, south‐
eastern Nigeria. Biologia, 76(9), 2573-2588.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-021-00751-8
Ogunjobi, J. A., Meduna, A. J., Oni, S. O., Inah, E. I., &
Enya, D. A. (2010). Protection staffs’ job perception in
Cross River National Park, Southern Nigeria. MiddleEast Journal of Scientific Research, 5(1), 22-27.
https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type
=pdf&doi=5bb6b7f0618672c96fce3144369978ef9675d8
f4
Oladeji, S. O., Awolala, D. O., & Alabi, O. I. (2022).
Evaluation of sustainable ecotourism practices in OkeIdanre Hills, Ondo-State, Nigeria. Environment,
Development and Sustainability, 24(2), 2656-2684.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01550-6
Oyunchimeg, L., & Gantuya, N. (2021). Mongolian
domestic tourists’ motivation and revisit intention: Mediating effect of perceived benefit and perceived
value. Central European Journal of Geography and
Sustainable Development, 3(1), 32-48.
https://doi.org/10.47246/CEJGSD.2021.3.1.3
Ozturk, O. (2014). Estimation of population mean and
total in a finite population setting using multiple auxiliary
variables. Journal of Agricultural, Biological, and
Environmental Statistics, 19(2), 161-184.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13253-013-0163-9
Rasoolimanesh, S. M., Iranmanesh, M., Amin, M.,
Hussain, K., Jaafar, M., & Ataeishad, H. (2020). Are
functional, emotional and social values interrelated? A
study of traditional guesthouses in Iran. International
Journal of Contemporary Hospitality
Management, 32(9), 2857-2880.
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-03-2020-0193
Rukhin, A. L. (2009). Weighted means statistics in
interlaboratory studies. Metrologia, 46(3), 323.
https://doi.org/10.1088/0026-1394/46/3/021
Salleh, M., Omar, K., Yaakop, A. Y., & Mahmmod, A.
R. (2013). Tourist satisfaction in Malaysia. International
Journal of Business and Social Science, 4(5), 221-226.
10.30845/ijbss
Schlesinger, W., Cervera-Taulet, A., & Pérez-Cabañero,
C. (2020). Exploring the links between destination
attributes, quality of service experience and loyalty in
emerging Mediterranean destinations. Tourism
Management Perspectives, 35, 100699.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2020.100699
Shahane, R., & Fernandes, M. (1972). SocioDemographic Characteristics of Tourists from
Maharashtra visiting Goa. Social Research, 39(1).
http://www.publishingindia.com/
Shamsudin, M. F. M. F., Esa, S. A. S. A., & Ali, A. M. A.
M. (2019). Determinants of customer loyalty towards the
hotel industry in Malaysia. International Journal of
Innovation, Creativity and Change, 6(9), 21-29.
https://www.ijicc.net/images/Vol6Iss9/6903_Shamsudin
_2019_E_R.pdf
Shen, Y. S., Choi, H. C., Joppe, M., & Yi, S. (2020). What
motivates visitors to participate in a gamified trip? A
player typology using Q methodology. Tourism
Management, 78, 104074.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2019.104074
Simpson, G. D., Sumanapala, D. P., Galahitiyawe, N. W.,
Newsome, D., & Perera, P. (2020). Exploring motivation,
satisfaction and revisit intention of ecolodge visitors.
Tourism and Hospitality Management, 26(2), 359-379.
https://doi.org/10.20867/thm.26.2.5
Somocor, M. (2017). Marketing mix and service quality
(servqual) attributes as determinants of customer
satisfaction in selected three-star hotels in Davao City.
International Journal of Contemporary Applied
Researches, 4(6), 134-187.
https://ijcar.net/assets/pdf/Vol4-No6-June2017/13.pdf
Stranjancevic, A., & Bulatovic, I. (2015). Customer
satisfaction as an indicator of service quality in tourism
and hospitality. International Journal for Quality
Research, 9(4), 689. http://www.ijqr.net/journal/v9-
n4/9.pdf
Sumanapala, H. D. P., Perera, P. K. P., Kotagama, S. W.,
& Silva, D. A. C. S. (2015). Eco-lodge Patrons'
characteristics: the Sri Lankan perspective. International
Journal of Research in Social Sciences, 5(2), 509-525.
https://www.indianjournals.com/ijor.aspx?target=ijor:ijr
ss&volume=5&issue=2&article=042
Sung, Y. K., Chang, K. C., & Sung, Y. F. (2016). Market
segmentation of international tourists based on
motivation to travel: A case study of Taiwan. Asia Pacific
Journal of Tourism Research, 21(8), 862-882.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10941665.2015.1080175
Ugwukah, A., & Obomanu, V. S. O. (2020). Tourism and
Economic Development in Nigeria: A Critical
Assessment of the Obudu Mountain Resort, Cross River
State. Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Sports, 48, 15-
25. 10.7176/JTHS/48-03
Uysal, M., Li, X., & Sirakaya-Turk, E. (2009). Push–pull
dynamics in travel decisions. In Handbook of hospitality
marketing management (pp. 412-439. Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780080569437
Wu, T. P., & Wu, H. C. (2019). Tourism and economic
growth in Asia: A bootstrap multivariate panel Granger
causality. International Journal of Tourism
Research, 21(1), 87-96. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2243
PDF