Residents’ attitudes towards proposed utilization of heritage resources as tourism attractions in Northern Ghana
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.6.2.66Palavras-chave:
Heritage Resource, Heritage significance, Ghana, Local Attitudes, Socio-Demographic CharacteristicsResumo
Controversy over the use of heritage resources as tourism attractions has received global attention, but little research has been conducted over the years, particularly in Africa. This study thus examines how socio-demographic factors and heritage significance affect local attitudes towards the proposed utilization of heritage resources for tourism in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The study used Social Exchange Theory as a framework to assess local residents’ preparedness to trade their heritage resources for tourism’s economic benefits. A mixed-methods approach based on pragmatic research underpinning was employed. To gather relevant data, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select household members for participation in the study. 400 respondents were employed for the quantitative survey while focus group discussion schedules were used for the qualitative interview. Data analysis techniques included percentages while t-tests and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to test significance. The study indicated that age, education, gender and religion had influence on attitudes. The youth and those with higher education had more support than the elderly and less educated were respectively. More males than females also supported the use of heritage resources. More of the Christians had positive attitudes compared to Muslims and Traditionalists, respectively. There was generally significant relationships between socio-demographic variables and heritage significance on one hand and attitudes on the other. The significance attached to heritage resources influenced local attitudes towards their use. This study implies that, policies would have to be fashioned based on each socio-demographic variable to ensure general acceptability for heritage tourism purposes and development, while people who highly perceive heritage as significant should be assured of tourism’s role in heritage conservation.
Downloads
Referências
Abdul-Kadri, Y., Samuel, A., & Abdullah, A. (2022). Sustainable eco-tourism in Ghana: An assessment of environmental and economic impacts in selected sites in the Upper East Region. Journal of Geography and Regional Planning, 15(2), 18-30. https://doi.org/10.5897/JGRP2022.0853
Aboagye, D., Frempong, F., & Eshun, G. (2013). The cultural and political ecology of rural tourism development in Ghana. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 4(3), 163-170.
Almeida-García, F., Peláez-Fernández, M. Á., Balbuena-Vázquez, A., & Cortés-Macias, R. (2016). Residents' perceptions of tourism development in Benalmádena (Spain). Tourism Management, 54, 259-274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2015.11.007
Amuquandoh, F. E. (2010). Lay concepts of tourism in Bosomtwe Basin, Ghana. Annals of Tourism Research, 37(1), 34-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2009.07.002
Baptista, J., Pocinho, M., & Nechita, F. (2019). Tourism and public policy. Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov, Series v: Economic Sciences, 12(61), 77-86. https://doi.org/10.31926/but.es.2019.12.61.1.11
Bennett, R. J., Aquino, K., Reed, A. I. I., & Thau, S. (2005). The normative nature of employee deviance and the impact of moral identity. In S. Fox & P. E. Spector (Eds.), Counterproductive work behaviors: Investigations of actions and tactics (pp. 107-125). American Psychological Association.
https://doi.org/10.1037/10893-005
Blackie, I. (2019). The impact of wildlife hunting prohibition on the rural livelihoods of local communities in Ngamiland and Chobe District Areas, Botswana. Cogent Social Sciences, 5(1), 34-37. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2018.1558716
Blau, P. (2017). Exchange and power in social life. Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203792643
Boatbil, C. S., Yorose, W. A., & Yiran, A. B. (2024). Exploring community participation at ecotourism sites in the Upper East Region, Ghana. UDS International Journal of Development, 11(2), 1177-1181. https://doi.org/10.47740/750.UDSIJD6i
Brennan, K. M., & Cooper, C. A. (2008). Rural mountain natives, in-migrants, and the cultural divide. The Social Science Journal, 45(2), 279-295.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soscij.2008.03.006
Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods. https://ktpu.kpi.ua/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/social-research-methods-alan-bryman.pdf
Chen, S. C., & Raab, C. (2012). Predicting resident intentions to support community tourism: Toward an integration of two theories. Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management, 21(3), 270-294. https://doi.org/10.1080/19368623.2011.584268
Davlembayeva, D., & Alamanos, E. (2023). Social exchange theory: A review. In S. Papagiannidis (Ed.), Theory hub book. https://open.ncl.ac.uk/ISBN:9781739604400
Deery, M., Jago, L., & Fredline, L. (2012). Rethinking social impacts of tourism research: A new research agenda. Tourism Management, 33(1), 64-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2011.01.026
DeLamater, J., & Ward, A. (2013). Handbook of social psychology. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-94-007-6772-0
Eusébio, C., Vieira, A. L., & Lima, S. (2018). Place attachment, host-tourist interactions, and residents' attitudes towards tourism development: The case of Boa Vista Island in Cape Verde. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 26(6), 890-909. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2018.1425695
Frempong, F. (2008). Heritage assets in the Cape Coast metropolitan area (MPhil dissertation). University of Cape Coast.
García, F. A., Vázquez, A. B., & Macías, R. C. (2015). Resident's attitudes towards the impacts of tourism. Tourism Management Perspectives, 13(7), 33-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2014.11.002
Ghana Tourism Authority. (2020). Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, 2020 annual tourism report. https://www.motac.gov.gh/en/wp-content/uploads/2020_Tourism_Report.pdf
Ghana Tourism Authority. (2021). Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, 2021 annual tourism report. https://www.motac.gov.gh/en/wp-content/uploads/TOURISM-REPORT-2021.pdf
Gibson, J. J. (1979). The ecological approach to visual perceptions. Houghton Mifflin.
Gursoy, D., Yolal, M., Ribeiro, M. A., & Panosso Netto, A. (2017). Impact of trust on local residents' mega-event perceptions and their support. Journal of Travel Research, 56(3), 393-406. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287516643415
Hadinejad, A., Moyle, B. D., Scott, N., Kralj, A., & Nunkoo, R. (2019). Residents' attitudes to tourism: A review. Tourism Review, 74(2), 150-165. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-01-2018-0003
Halim, M. A., Mawa, J., Deb, S. K., & Nafi, S. M. (2022). Local community perception about tourism impact and community support for future tourism development: A study on Sylhet, Bangladesh. Geo Journal of Tourism and Geosites, 44(4), 1260-1270. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.44410-942
Heiskanen, E., Jarvela, K., Pulliainen, A., Saastamoinen, M., & Timonen, P. (2008). Qualitative research and consumer policy: Focus group discussions as a form of consumer participation. Qualitative Report, 13(2), 152-172. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2008.1592
Homsud, N. (2017). The effect of residents' attitude toward tourism on their pro-tourism behavior: A case study of Hua-Hin Prachuabkirikhan. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 8(7), 56-57. https://doi.org/10.1515/mjss-2017-0050
Issahaku, A. R., Campion, B. B., & Edziyie, R. (2016). Rainfall and temperature changes and variability in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Earth and Space Science, 3(8), 284-294. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016EA000161
Mundt, J. W. (2011). Tourism and sustainable development: Reconsidering a concept of vague policies. International Progress Organization.
https://doi.org/10.37307/b.978-3-503-13042-9
Nunkoo, R., Smith, S. L., & Ramkissoon, H. (2013). Residents' attitudes to tourism: A longitudinal study of 140 articles from 1984 to 2010. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 21(1), 5-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2012.673621
Pollnac, R. B. (2000). Villager's perceptions of aspects of the natural and human environment of Balikpapan Bay, Indonesia. Journal Pesisir dan Lautan: Indonesian Journal of Coastal and Marine Resources, 3(2), 19-29.
Postma, A., & Schmuecker, D. (2017). Understanding and overcoming negative impacts of tourism in city destinations: Conceptual model and strategic framework. Journal of Tourism Futures, 3(2), 144-156. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-04-2017-0022
Ribeiro, M. A., Pinto, P., Silva, J. A., & Woosnam, K. M. (2017). Residents' attitudes and the adoption of pro-tourism behaviors: The case of developing island countries. Tourism Management, 61, 523-537.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.03.004
Rickson, R. E., Western, J. S., & Burdge, R. J. (1990). Social impact assessment: Knowledge and development. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 10(1-2), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/0195-9255(90)90002-H
Rua, V. S. (2020). Perceptions of tourism: A study of residents' attitudes towards tourism in the city of Girona. Journal of Tourism Analysis: Revista de Análisis Turístico, 27(2), 165-184. https://doi.org/10.53596/jta.v27i2.359
Salazar, N. B., & Yuzie, Z. (2015). Heritage and tourism. In Global heritage: A reader (pp. 241-258). Wiley Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394261154.ch11
Samuel, A., Abdul-Kadri, Y., & Yeboah, B. B. (2024). Assessing ecotourism stakeholder power imbalances in COVID-19 resilience strategies in Ghana's Upper East Region. Journal of Tourism and Heritage Research, 7(2), 90-105. https://doi.org/10.36989/jthr.es/index.php/journal/article/view/540
Teye, J. K. (2008). Forest resource management in Ghana: An analysis of policy and institutions (Doctoral dissertation). University of Leeds. https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/368
Teye, J. K. (2012). Benefits, challenges, and dynamism of positionalities associated with mixed methods research in developing countries: Evidence from Ghana. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 6(4), 379-391. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689812453332
Thibaut, J. W., & Kelley, H. H. (2017). The social psychology of groups. Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315135007
Timothy, D. J., & Boyd, S. W. (2006). Heritage tourism in the 21st century: Valued traditions and new perspectives. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 1(1), 1-16.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17438730608668462
Willebrand, T. (2009). Promoting hunting tourism in North Sweden: Opinions of local hunters. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 55, 209-216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-008-0235-2
Woosnam, K. M., Erul, E., & Ribeiro, M. A. (2017). Heterogeneous community perspectives of emotional solidarity with tourists: Considering Antalya, Turkey. International Journal of Tourism Research, 19(6), 639-647. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2136
World Travel & Tourism Council. (2019). Travel and city travel & tourism impact, UNWTO. https://wttc.org/research/economic-impact
Yankholmes, A. K. B., Akyeampong, O. A., & Dei, L. A. (2009). Residents' perceptions of Transatlantic Slave Trade attractions for heritage tourism in Danish-Osu, Ghana. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 4(4), 315-329. https://doi.org/10.1080/17438730903186441
Yiran, G. A., & Stringer, L. C. (2016). Spatio-temporal analyses of impacts of multiple climatic hazards in a savannah ecosystem of Ghana. Climate Risk Management, 14, 11-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2016.09.003
Yu, J., Lee, K., & Hyun, S. S. (2021). Understanding the influence of the perceived risk of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the post-traumatic stress disorder and revisit intention of hotel guests. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 46(7), 327-335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2021.01.010
Downloads
Publicado
Edição
Secção
Licença
Direitos de Autor (c) 2025 Dr. Christopher S. Boatbil, Dr. Akonga Samuel, Dr. Elijah Turkwariba Yin
Este trabalho encontra-se publicado com a Licença Internacional Creative Commons Atribuição-NãoComercial 4.0.
