ABSTRACT

This work was carried out to ascertain the Challenges and Prospects of Developing Abadaba Lake into a tourism Site. A Lake located between the serene villages of Okwuohia, Odenkume and Umuezegwu in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo sate, Nigeria. The study Objectives were to identify the tourism potentials of Abadaba Lake, to determine efforts made in the past to develop Abadaba Lake for tourism, to ascertain the challenges and prospects of developing the Lake, to find out how the Lake can be developed, determine the perception of the Local Communities and their attitudes towards the Lake and its development. The methodology was survey design, the population for the study consist of 380, sample for the study consist of 280 respondents made up of tourism officials of Imo State Tourism Board, selected members of the traditional council and some other indigenes’ of the Local Communities and staff of the Imo State ministry of culture and Tourism. Data for this research was generated using quantitative techniques, simple frequency, percentage were used to analyze the data generated for the research. The findings of this research revealed that change of government executives, safety/security challenge, lack of fund, lack of government interest etc as the challenges of developing Abadaba Lake, The study revealed also that, tourism development of Abadaba Lake will bring about, Infrastructural development, Revenue Generation, Generation of employment, Protection and improvement of the environmental qualities and Promotion of local businesses around the destination, Improvement of the standard of living (that is the prospects). The study revealed also that the Local Communities likes and welcomes the Tourism Development of Abadaba Lake and others. It was recommended that for Abadaba Lake to be developed there should be adequate tourist facilities such as good road network, creating of awareness, embracing of information technology etc.  The government, private sectors and other stakeholders should collaborate with each other by providing all the raw materials needed for the development of this potential tourist site to meet the current tourism demand.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page i

Declaration i

Certification                                                                                                               iii

Dedication                                                                                                                  iv     

Acknowledgement                                                                                                     v

Table of content                                                                                                         vi- vii

List of tables and Plates                                                                                             viii

Abstract                                                                                                                      ix

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study     1

1.2       Statement of the Problem     2

1.3       Objectives of the Study     3  

1.4       Research Question     3

1.5       Significance of the Study     4

1.6       Scope of the Study     4

1.7 Limitation of The Study     4

1.8 Definition of Terms     5

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2 .1 Conceptual Framework    7

2.1.1 Tourism    7

2.1.2 Development    8

2.1.3 Tourism Development    8

2.1.4 Development, Procedures, and Control    9

2.1.5     Challenges of Tourism    13

2.1.6 Prospects of Tourism Development    15

2.1.7 Historical Perspective    18

2.1.8 Wetland Ecosystem    21

2.1.9 Tourism Potential    23

2.1.10  Tourism Development and Fresh Water Ecosystem    25

2.2.      Theoretical Framework    26 

2.2.1. Modernization Theory    26

2.2.2. Dependency Theory    31

2.2.3. Environmental Theories    31

2.2.4. Sustainability Theories    34

2.3. Empirical Review    34

2.3.1. Tourism Development    35

2.3.2.    Problems and Prospects of Tourism Development    35

2.4. Theoretical Orientation    36

CHAPTER THREE

3.0.      Materials and Methods 38

3.1. Research Design 38

3.2. Study Area 38

3.3. Population for the Study 39

3.4. Sample and Sampling Technique 39

3.5. Instrument Used For Data Collection 39

3.6. Techniques for Data Collection 40

3.7. Validation of Instrument 40

3.8 Data Analysis Technique 40

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1        Data Presentation and Analysis 41

4.2       Presentation of photographs and Analysis of tourism potentials

Identified at the lake 42

4.3 Discussion of Findings 48

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1. Summary 52

5.1.1 Restatement of the Problem 52

5.1.2 Description of Procedures Used 53

5.1.3 Summary of Findings 53

5.2 Conclusion 54

5.3 Recommendations 54

5.4 Contribution to Knowledge 54

LISTS OF TABLES AND PLATES

Table.4.1 Demographic Characteristic of Respondent                                     41

Plate 1 Pictorial view of Abadaba Lake   41

Plate 2 Hotel and Bar   43

Plate 3 Access leading  to  Abadaba Lake   43

Table 4.2 Identified Tourism Potentials and  Readiness Status   44

Table 4.3 Stakeholder that  made  the effort   45

Table 4.4 Challenges of  developing Abadaba Lake   46

Table 4.5 Prospect of developing Abadaba Lake for Tourism   47

Table 4.6 Actions needed to develop Abadaba Lake   48