Impact of Religious Tourism on the Redemption Camp, Loburo Forest, Mowe, Ogun State Nigeria.

सार

Religious tourism is recognized as a prime industry in most parts of the world. However, in Nigeria, it has not been given much prominence in ecological studies as it affects our ecological setting to evaluate the obvious advantages and disadvantages that may bring about economic growth and sound environmental conservation. This work investigates the socio-economic implication of religious tourism at the Redemption Camp at Mowe, Ogun State, Nigeria, to document its socio-economic impact on the residents around the camp. A total of 240 tourists were sampled during major activities of the religious tourism of the camp. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were also carried out. The results show that Only a few respondents (3.9%) lived in the forest before establishing the Redemption Camp, and adults are involved more in religious tourism than young people, as only 4.5% of the tourists were aged 20 years and below. Religious tourism has been a high instrument in conserving biodiversity at the subsistent levels of development in this environment through taboos and norms, which are now broken down. Therefore, It is worthwhile to set aside a good portion of the remaining vegetation of Loburo forest for conservation purposes and preserve remnants/relics of the biological diversity that once made up the environment.