Abstract

This study investigates the influence of ecotourism development on the socioeconomic development and improvement of the rural livelihoods of the people of Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The survey inferential research design was adopted for the study, the main trust of the study is to investigate how ecotourism potentials of Bekwarra can be harnessed and to influence the socioeconomic development and improve the livelihoods of the people and to identify factors that can influence the development of ecotourism in Bekwarra Local Government Area. Using multistage random sampling techniques, a sample of five hundred respondents were sampled from among farmers, businessmen, traders, palm wine tappers, hunters, civil and public servants, conservation and development officer and community leaders for the study. Structured questionnaire was the main instrument for data collection. The researchers personally administered the instruments and collected same back. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Regression Analysis were the statistical methods adopted for analyses. The result shows that ecotourism development can significantly influence the socioeconomic development and improvement of livelihoods of the people of Bekwarra, factors like financial capital and household income, educational status, infrastructural deficits, technical knowhow, community participation, awareness of ecotourism opportunities, marital status, cultural factors, religious affiliation, occupational status among others were identified as factors influencing ecotourism development in Bekwarra. The study concluded that ecotourism development can significantly influence the socioeconomic development and also improve the livelihoods of the people of Bekwarra. It was therefore recommended that the tourism potentials of Bekwarra should be harnessed in order to bring about economic development and improve the rural livelihoods of the people of Bekwarra.