Perception of Suitability of Landscape Features of the Lagos Lagoon for Tourism by its Users and Users of Lagos Coastal Tourism Venues

Author(s): Uduma-Olugu N., Okedele O. S., Adebamowo M., Obiefuna J. N.

The Lagos lagoon is a major geographical feature in Lagos Metropolis and is the largest of the network of lagoons that stretch from the Republic of Benin through to the Nigerian Niger Delta. Some parts of the Lagos lagoon waterfront has degenerated into a slum with non-distinctive housing, mainly shanties at various points, wood processing, sand dredging, markets and commercial fishing activities. Water-based tourism is a proven revenue earner globally, usually providing revenue for the government and a source of enjoyment, employment and recreation to the residents and visitors alike. The tourism potentials of the lagoon remain largely untapped. To determine the place of landscape features of the Lagos Lagoon in its suitability for tourism, the paper evaluates its landscape characteristics and compares the perception of users of water-based recreation destinations along the its waterfront with those of users of similar tourist attractions along the Lagos coast. The aim of the study is to answer questions of landscape perception and assessment of the area and to identify other factors which may be of relevance to its tourism development. Using structured questionnaires with pictures of the landscape features of the lagoon, field survey and interviews, the study identified the communities, problems, and factors influencing tourism at three venues on the lagoon waterfront and three water tourism venues along the Lagos coast. Results show that the landscape characteristics of the lagoon have a very significant effect on tourism in the area. It also identified the major factors influencing the tourism development of the Lagos Lagoon. The outcome of the research will be of benefit to property owners in the area, architects, landscape architects, tourists, visitors, industry practitioners and policy makers in determining appropriate facilities and land-use planning options in developing the natural resource.

Landscape assessment and perception, tourism, water-based recreation, suitability and Lagos Lagoon

1. Adejumo, O. T., (2010). Eleko rural beach initiative: Maximizing economic benefit of domestic tourism destination in littoral Lagos community. Urban and Regional Planning Review, 2 (1&2), 91-98
2. Aina, O. C. & Babatola O. (2010). Cultural Tourism: A sustainable development strategy for Nigeria’s rural area. Journal of Geography, Environment and Planning. Pp.66-72
3. Buhyoff, G. J., & Wellman, J. D. (1978). Landscape architect’s interpretation of people’s landscape for visual landscape dimensions. Journal of Environmental Management 6: 255­ 262
4. Daniel T. C., & Boster, R. S. (1976). Measuring landscape aesthetics: The scenic beauty estimation method. USDA Forest Service, Research Paper RM­ 167. Ft. Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station
5. Daniel, T. C. (2001). Whither scenic beauty? Visual landscape quality assessment in the 21st century. Landscape and Urban Planning, 54(1-4), 267-281
6. Franco, D., Franco D., Mannino, I & Zanetto, G. (2003). The impact of agroforestry networks on scenic beauty estimation; The role of a landscape ecological network on a socio-cultural process. Landscape and Urban Planning, 62, 119-138
7. Gnoth, J. (1997). Tourism motivation and expectation formation. Annals of Tourism Research, 24 (2), 283-304.
8. Gunn, C. A. (2002). Tourism planning. New York: Routledge
9. Malm, W. C., Kelley, K., Molenar, J. & Daniel, T. C. (1981). Human perception of visual air quality (uniform haze). Atmospheric Environment 15:1875­ 1890
10. Nassauer, J. I. (1995). Messy ecosystems, orderly frames. Landscape Journal, 14(2), 161-169
11. Ndubuisi, F. (2002). Ecological planning: A historical and comparative synthesis. Baltimore and London: John Hopkins University Press
12. Nwankwo, D. I. (2004). The microalgae: Our indispensible allies in aquatic monitoring and biodiversity sustainability. University of Lagos Press. Inaugural lecture series.44pp
13. Nwilo, P. C., Peters, K. O. & Badejo, O. T. (2009). Development of a Lagos Lagoon information System. Environmental Review, 3 (2), 403-408
14. Okoye, C. O., Onwuka S. U., & Obiakor, M. O. (2010). Pollution survey in the Lagos Lagoon and its environmental consequences: A review. Tropical Built Environment, 1 (1), 41-54
15. Oshundeyi, O. A., & Babarinde, O. T. (2003). Tourism in Lagos State. In Ajetunmobi, R. (Ed), The Evolution and development of Lagos State, Lagos: A-Triad Associates. pp 260-285
16. Shafer, E. L., & Brush, R. O. (1977). How to measure preferences for photographs of natural landscapes. Landscape Planning 4:237­ 256
17. Swaffield, S. (1999). A framework for landscape assessment. Landscape Review, 5(1), 45-51
18. Thayer, R. L. (1989). The experience of sustainable landscapes. Landscape Journal, 8:101-110
19. Uduma-Olugu, N. & Oduwaye, L. (2010). The regeneration of Lagos lagoon waterfront for recreation and tourism. REAL CORP 2010, 15th International Conference Proceedings held at Vienna 18th – 20th May, 2010. pp 759-764
20. Uduma-Olugu, N. & Onukwube, H. N. (2012). Exploring the coastal tourism potentials of Lagos. Journal of Sustainable Development, 5(7), 156-165
21. Uduma-Olugu, N., & Iyagba, R. (2009b). Comparative analysis of factors affecting water tourism patronage and potentials within the built environment in Nigeria and Ghana. International Journal of Culture and Tourism Research, 2(1), 91-105
22. Uluocha, N. O. (1999). Mapping for integrated management of tourism resources in Lagos State. In Balogun, O. Y. and Soneye, A. S. O. (Eds), Cartography in the service of government, Lagos: The Nigerian Cartographic Association. pp 71-82
23. United Nations World Tourism Organisation (2011). Compendium of Tourism statistics 2005 - 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2012, from, http;//www.e-unwto.org
24. Zube, E.H., Brush, R.O. & Fabos, J. Gy. (Eds), (1975). Landscape Assessment: Values, Perceptions and Resources. Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Stroudsburg, PA, 367 pp