Visitors Perception and Enhancement Strategies for Sustainable Experience Management at Idanre Hills, Nigeria

• F.C. Arowosafe

  Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management, The Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure

  Author

Heritage tourism in Nigeria faces persistent challenges of infrastructure inadequacy, weak interpretive services, and limited visitor-centred management, constraining the sustainable experience potential of culturally significant sites. This study examines visitor perceptions of enhancement strategies for sustainable experience management at Idanre Hills, Ondo State, Nigeria a UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List site of considerable ecological, geological, and cultural significance. Guided by five objectives, the study assessed visitor perceptions of existing enhancement strategies, identified factors influencing satisfaction, evaluated the impact of strategies on overall experience, examined the relationship between visitor gender and perceptions, and identified priority areas for improvement. A quantitative research design was adopted, employing a structured questionnaire administered to 200 purposively sampled visitors. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with SPSS version 26.0. Findings reveal that visitor satisfaction with current strategies is moderate, with only 6.5% expressing strong satisfaction and 30.5% indicating dissatisfaction. Quality of interpretation (Mean = 3.59) and accessibility (Mean = 3.55) emerged as the most influential satisfaction factors. ANOVA results identified cultural performances (F = 5.570, p < 0.001), interpretive signage (F = 4.491, p = 0.002), and recreational activities (F = 2.514, p = 0.043) as statistically significant predictors of satisfaction, while no gender-based differences in perception were found. The study recommends urgent investment in accessibility infrastructure, visitor amenities, interpretive quality, cultural programming, and digital promotion to bridge the gap between the site's outstanding heritage value and its managed visitor experience. Findings contribute to sustainable heritage tourism management in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.

1. F.C. Arowosafe, Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management, The Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure

   Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management, The Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure

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