TOURIST BEHAVIOUR AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM RESOURCES

TOURIST BEHAVIOUR AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM RESOURCES AT LAKE BOSOMTWE IN THE ASHANTI REGION OF GHANA Ruth Akyeamah Obeng and Foster Frempong Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology 1 Ghana

BACKGROUND Tourism is a rapidly growing phenomenon and has become one of the largest industries in the world It has become one of the top priorities for many countries, because of its contribution to their economies. 2

BACKGROUND CONT’D Tourist behaviour has been a major topic for decades under academic scrutiny in tourism research literature. Contributions have been made from various aspects to the understanding of tourist behaviour. 3

BACKGROUND CONT’D Tourists' spatial and temporal behaviour has been empirically investigated in a number of studies (Pearce, 1988; Fennell, 1996; Huang and Wu, 1997). Additionally, researches on segmentation differences in tourist behaviour are often found in cross-cultural studies with a tourism context (Pizam and Jeong, 1996). 4

BACKGROUND CONT’D As the importance of tourism increases, allocation of funds for tourism development by governments also keeps going up. This has resulted in different ways in which attention is directed towards tourism development such as emphasis on infrastructure development and 5 streamlining tourism activities.

BACKGROUND CONT’D In most developing countries little attention is paid to tourism development planning Those who pay some attention at all do it in such haphazard manner that little benefits is derived. Tourist behaviour is often ignored forgetting that tourists are the prime target for tourist developments Tourist interest should be considered above or alongside any developments. 6

PROBLEM STATEMENT Despite the many research endeavours and multidimensional findings in tourist behaviour, destination-based comprehensive investigations into tourist behaviour need to be further conducted which will help to come to an overall understanding of tourist behaviour in relation to development of tourism resources. 7

PROBLEM STATEMENT CONTD. A way to maximize the benefits of tourism developments is to develop tourism resources with respect to tourist behaviour. Lake Bosomtwe in the Ashanti region of Ghana is endowed with very beautiful natural resources which could be developed into a very attractive resort. 8

PROBLEM STATEMENT CONTD. The Lake has been rendered unattractive, under utilised, and unable to generate the required revenue It is assumed that lack of effective development plans and policies have contributed partly to this phenomena 9

OBJECTIVES Determine whether the current resources at Lake Bosomtwe fully satisfies tourist. Identify the kind of tourism resources that can make Lake Bosomtwe more attractive. Examine information on tourist behaviour that managers can use to develop resources at Lake Bosomtwe. Examine tourist behaviour influences the development of resources at Lake Bosomtwe. 10

Framework for In-depth Analysis Tourist Marketing Activity Understanding Tourist Consumer Behaviour Effectiveness and Efficiency of Marketing Activity To develop tourism products To promote tourism products To sell tourism products Source: Therchai. Choibamroong, 2005 11

METHODS Bosomtwe District is located at the central portion of the Ashanti Region. It lies within latitudes 6º 43’ North and longitudes 1º 46’ West and spreads over a land area of 718 sqkm. 12

METHODS CONT’D The District is bounded on the North by Atwima Nwabiagya and Kumasi Metropolis and on the East by Ejisu-Juaben Municipal. Mixed method was used alongside the cross-sectional study design. Data was collected from; tourists, Managers and owners of tourism facilities at Abono 13

14

METHODS CONT’D Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used to select respondents. A total of 115 tourists were selected 115 questionnaire were administered and 109 were usable for analysis 10 Face-to-face interviews were conducted with owners and 15 managers of facilities at the Lake

FINDINGS Males dominated in the sample for the study (54%) The dominant age category is 18 – 29 years (about 78% of the respondents) 16

FINDINGS CONT’D 81% of the respondents were single Majority of the respondents did not have any children. (67. 1%) 62. 5% belonged to the middle income class. 17

ADEQUACY OF RESOURCES AT LAKE BOSOMTWE 51. 1% of the respondents found the resources provided inadequate There were little varieties in the range of activities and facilities available to tourists Not much improvements were seen in the facilities 18

SUGGESTED TOURISM RESOURCES THAT CAN MAKE LAKE BOSOMTWE MORE ATTRACTIVE Improved sanitation conditions Seats for resting Clean places of convenience Water sporting facilities Well equipped information center with qualified and skilled site 19 guides

DEVELOPERS’ CONSIDERATION OF TOURIST SATISFACTION Tourist satisfaction is not one of the topmost priorities of most developers at the lake Some managers admitted that they only considered profits but not tourist satisfaction of their products Some owners also provided facilities according to their strength and not with tourist satisfaction per se 20

DEVELOPERS’ CONSIDERATION OF TOURIST SATISFACTION CONT’D Hence the facilities are unable to fully meet tourists expectation Facilities are unable to fully satisfy majority of tourists 21

INFLUENCE OF TOURISTS ON DEVELOPMENT 56. 8% of the tourists were of the view that their behaviour influenced development decisions Some owners consider specific facilities that will serve direct interest of tourists Others develop facilities similar to what has been developed at other similar attraction sites without considering tourist behaviour at the Lake Another section just develop the facilities and expect to meet 22 tourist demand

TYPE OF TOURISM RESOURCES THAT CAN MAKE THE LAKE MORE ATTRACTIVE 62. 9% of the respondents were of the view that there was the need for improvement in the range of facilities at the Lake The following facilities were recommended by respondents: Water sporting facilities 23

Improved sanitation conditions Seats for resting Clean places of convenience Well equipped information center with qualified and skilled site guides 24

SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON TOURIST THAT MANAGERS CAN USE Type of travel arrangements made by visitors Information sources that tourists consult before choosing a destination Factors that exert influence on the behaviour of tourists such as: Gender Occupation Position at work Educational level 25

EFFECTS OF TOURIST BEHAVIOUR ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM RESOURCES Tourist behaviour that contributes to degradation Tourist behaviour that contributes to conservation Visitors are more aware of direct impacts but have greater difficulty identifying indirect impacts 26

WAY FORWARD There should be effective measures to free the Lake from all dirt and pollutants due to its enclosed nature Sustainable use of the Lake should be encouraged to ensure that the fish stock is not depleted More trees should be planted to safeguard the Lake 27

WAY FORWARD CONT’D There should be an effective development plan that will cater for all future developmental projects at the Lake An implementation committee made up of the relevant stakeholders will be necessary to guide all developmental projects 28

WAY FORWARD CONT’D Potential future projects: A meteorite museum Fee fishing Mountain hikes Improved signage 29

WAY FORWARD CONT’D There should be a well stocked shopping centre where mementos will be sold Dedicated and skilled life guards A well-equipped first aid team or medical team to attend to casualties Effective and well equipped tourist security 30

WAY FORWARD CONT’D Proper tourist transportation The information centre should be well equipped The community members should be discouraged from cultivating a begging attitude with tourists Tourists should be educated about sustainable use of the resources at the Lake 31

Than k you 32