ASSESSMENT OF TOURISTS' AND STAKEHOLDERS' PERCEPTION OF THE ROLE OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN BADAGRY, NIGERIA

Although transportation is recognized as a key enabler of tourism development, there is a dearth of context-specific evidence on the perceptions of tourists and key stakeholders in the Badagry tourism destination regarding the role of transportation in shaping visitation and destination competitiveness. This study aimed to fill this gap by looking at the transportation-tourism relationship through the eyes of those who live it every day. The methodology used in the study was survey research, which involved the use of four types of structured questionnaires for the tourists, resident household heads, transport operators, and business owners in Badagry around the major heritage sites. Different sampling methods were employed across the various categories of respondents, and the data obtained were analyzed descriptively, with the use of a mean score rating system (Likert rating type of Scale) and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The study found that public buses (46.47%) and private vehicles (36.06%) were the most popular means of reaching Badagry's heritage sites, while water transport and motorcycles were underutilized. While high transport costs and lack of links were also identified as a frequent constraint, the general opinion was that the transport system does support the development of tourism in the area (mean score = 4.22) and that it would help to increase the number of visitors (mean = 4.31). The one-way ANOVA results showed no significant difference between the perception of tourists and the other stakeholder groups (p = 0.3234), and there was no significant difference between the respondents' perceptions on the potential of transportation to boost tourism (p = 0.7556), indicating a fairly similar attitude across the respondent categories. The results indicate that specific investment in road rehabilitation, signage, water transport and transport security can significantly enhance the visitor experience and help Badagry establish itself as a heritage tourism destination, which is likely to be welcomed by tourists, residents, transport operators and business owners.