The Dynamics of Ecotourism Activities in Some Selected States in Nigeria Using Spaced Technology and Interactive Decision-Making Tool

Ecotourism is considered the most important cause of employment in the world. In this regard, it is a source for creating jobs and economy for a country by generating finances. Assessing ecotourism resources is crucial for tourism development and designing effective management strategies that balance economic, social, and environmental objectives. This study assesses the current ecotourism sites and factors affecting effective functioning in Nigeria using geospatial techniques for economic diversification. The study was carried out in 13 states of Nigeria, which included 7 northern states and 6 southern states. The northern states were Niger, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasarawa, Plateau, Jigawa and Kano; while the southern states were Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Enugu, and Akwa Ibom. The datasets for this study were sourced from Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGOF) for Nigeria shape file, administration of questionnaire to obtain factors affecting existing ecotourism and GPS coordinates for spatial distribution. Geodatabase was created for the existing ecotourism sites visited during the study and the dashboard was created using Tableau Desktop 2022, which was later hosted online. The study concluded that if the identified factors militating against the management of ecotourism sites could be well addressed in Nigeria, the sector will by no means become viable again and provide valuable information for policymakers, investors, and local communities, helping to guide the development of sustainable and responsible ecotourism in Nigeria.