ATTAHIRU, Hamza
Federal College of Wildlife Management New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria
hamzahborgu@gmail.com
MEDUNA, Patience Ndidi
Federal College of Wildlife Management New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria
AWAL, Adamu Bussa
Federal College of Wildlife Management New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria
MOHAMMED, Aminu,
Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Abuja
SA’ADU, Adamu Abdullahi
Federal College of Wildlife Management New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
This study explored the role of transportation in rural tourism and economic growth of in Kaiama Local
Government Area of Kwara State. The study identified available rural tourism resources in Kaiama Local
Government area, determined impact of transportation on rural tourism and economic growth, and
identified challenges of rural tourism in the study area. Convenient sampling method was used to draw
105 respondents from rural communities; while judgmental sampling was used to draw 55 respondents
from other critical interest holders (20 transporters, 15 customers, 15 Village Heads and 5 Kaiama Local
Government Tourism Committee members). Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis with the aid
of SPSS. The results showed that there are numerous tourism resources in Kaiama Local Government
Area of Kwara State; including the Annual Gani festival, Ancient settlements, Old Crocodiles. The results
also shows that transportation improve the standard of living of the rural people, enhance catering
business, and ease movement of tourist to destination. The results further showed that challenges facing
growth of rural tourism include improper implementation of government policies on rural tourism
development and poor accessibility to tourist sites. The study concludes that Kaiama Local Government
Area is blessed with several rural tourism resources which the residents are aware of; and recommends
that available rural tourism resources should be harnessed to allow for the realization of the maximum
dividends that could be achieved through exploitation, and that transportation infrastructure should be
given deserved attention to allow for growth of rural tourism and enhanced economic growth.
Keywords: Economic growth, Gani festival, aiama Local Government Area, rural tourism.