Post Ebola Disease Scourge: Impacts on Perception and Influx Rate of Tourists into the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden, Nigeria

By Lameed, G.A., _Adedoyin, S.O., Olajumoke, M. and A.G. Adetiloye

Abstract

This work aimed at highlighting the impacts of post Ebola disease scourge on the perception and influx rate of tourists into the University of Ibadan zoological garden. The study used an interviewed-administered questionnaire. Two types of questionnaire (type I and type II) were used. Data were analyzed and presented in percentages as well as Pearson moment correlation coefficient and descriptive statistics. Results showed that tourists who responded to the questions were Nigerians (119.0; 92.2%) while majority of the tourists had tertiary education (90.0; 69.7%). It was shown that not touching animals in their enclosure is significant .050 * (P<0.05 at levels) at the zoological garden. This is also supported by the awareness of the tourists that animals can transmit the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which was very strong .026* (significant at P<0.05 levels). The perception of tourists if EV can be contracted at the zoological garden stood at .000*. The respondents maintained they avoided physical contact with other visitors .007* (significant at P<0.05 levels). It was revealed that the Ebola virus outbreak in the country affected the influx rate of the tourists to the zoological garden. This is significant 0.000* at P<0.05 level. Tourists’ influx rate to the zoological garden before and after the outbreak of Ebola disease (EV) stood at a frequency of: before Ebola outbreak, (99.0; 76.8%) tourists were visiting the zoo and after Ebola outbreak, only (31; 79%) of the tourists came visiting the zoological garden. There was a significant increase in the numbers of tourists who never visited (23.0; 17.8%) before the outbreak and those who never visited after (55.0; 42.64%) the outbreak. Finally, the reported case of Ebola outbreak in the country affected the influx rate of tourists into the zoological garden, but measures taken during and after the outbreak has made the University safe.

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