WATER-BASED RECREATION AS A STRATEGY FOR HARNESSING INLAND WATER RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study focused on water-based recreation as a strategy for harnessing inland water resources for tourism development in Imo State. The study employed a survey research method for collecting primary data through the administration of questionnaires. Secondary data were obtained from relevant materials such as textbooks, journal articles, seminar papers, and periodicals. According to the National Population Commission’s 1991 census results projected to 2019, the population for the study was 480,352 persons, representing the overall population of the host communities selected for the study. A sample size of 400 respondents was used. Simple descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean, and standard deviation were used to analyze respondents’ personal data and research questions, while multiple regression analysis was employed to test the hypotheses. The decision rule was to accept the null hypothesis if the p-value was greater than 0.05; otherwise, the null hypothesis was rejected and the alternative hypothesis accepted. For the research questions, a mean value greater than or equal to 2.5 was considered acceptable on a four-point rating scale. The findings indicated a significant relationship between water-based recreation and heritage preservation in Imo State. The results also revealed that water-based recreation contributes positively to the destination image of Imo State. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated that water-based recreation is pivotal to infrastructural development in the State. The study therefore recommends that, to effectively harness inland water resources through water-based recreation, heritage preservation should be integrated into sectoral policies. Community engagement programmes should be implemented to educate local populations on the importance of heritage conservation. To enhance the destination image of Imo State, marketing strategies highlighting the unique features of the region’s inland waterways should be developed. Additionally, investment in infrastructure is critical, including the development of transport systems such as roads, ports, and signage to improve accessibility to natural sites.