The Socio-Economic Benefits of Trans Amusement Park to the Host Community, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Abstract

The socio economic benefits of Trans Amusement Park to the host community were investigated. Tourism activities as with any other type of economic development, brings about changes for economic, social, cultural and spatial structure of the settlement where it takes place. It is mostly regarded for generating income and employment, encouraging the entrepreneurial activity and eventually leading to improvements in the economic structure of the region. In the case of Trans Amusement Park, the positive and negative impacts on the environmental and social economic well being of the host community were investigated. Primary data were collected through the administration of questionnaires and key informant interview for the local people of Bodija community. Analysis of the data collected reveals that 75% of the respondents confirmed that the park is a contributor to the socio economic advancement of the host community. The analysis also reveals that the park has a minimal negative impact (p<0.05) on the environment, social and economic well being of the host community.

The park has provided opportunities for trading in gift item between the local people and the park visitors, market structures, confectionaries and other ongoing project for the host community. Although, the positive impact far outweighs the negative impacts of the park to the host community but, the people seems to be disturbed with crowding and congestion and some  other social vice with 25.5% and 44.9% of the respondent respectively stating them as some of the negative impact of  locating the park in their community. 61.2% of the respondents also opined that the level of participation of the people of the host community in the development of the park is on the average.

For the host community to benefit more from the park, it is recommended that the park should put into consideration the concept of carrying capacity in other to reduce crowding and congestion, beef up their security system in order to reduce social vices and the community should also improve in their level of participation in the development of the park. 

Keywords: Social economic benefit, Amusement park, Host community.