STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF VISITOR PERCEPTION, EBOLA RISK FACTOR, AND WATER QUALITY OF MOLE NATIONAL PARK FOR SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM FUNCTIONS
STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF VISITOR PERCEPTION, EBOLA RISK FACTOR, AND WATER QUALITY OF MOLE NATIONAL PARK FOR SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM FUNCTIONS
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020
Authors
Dartey, Emmanuel
Benjamin, Makimilua Tiimub
Kwasi, Obiri-Danso
Richard, Amankwah Kuffour
Paul, Amihere-Ackah
Richard, Wonnsibe Tiimob
Gideon, Likida Tiimob
Elisha, Tiimob
Kwame, Elijah Adade
Isaac, Baani
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
JOURNAL OF TOURISM, HOSPITALITY AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT (JTHEM)
Abstract
Aligning with Parks’ sustainability, tourist perceptions about integral field
conditions for ecotourism functions were studied at Mole in Ghana (Africa)
through periodic physicochemical analyses of water using
(APHA/AWWA/WEF, 2012) protocols. Optimally, 81.5 wet days with
1,107.38mm rainfall intensity- regulated the park’s dynamic natural primary
productivity within six years interval (2005 to 2010), revealing direct
insignificant regressive linear relationships (y = 1.7x + 0.2778) in the rainfall
pattern interspersed with marginal variations in standard errors of the month by-month figures (R2 = 0.6839). Zero Ebola records status boosted ecotourism
functions, although, foreign visitors’ statistics dropped in 2014 with reciprocal
ascendance of locals when the Government of Ghana adopted WHO/CDC
Ebola preventive interventions. Routine carrying capacity measures regulated
tourist numbers annually. Ground littering, pool contamination, olfactory wild
animal odours, and higher entrance fees seldom discouraged 90-95% of the
subjects who considered the park’s environs as recreationally moderately
attractive. CaCO3 varied widely from 32.03 to 124.72 mg/L similar to turbidity
(1.27 - 57.4) NTU, while pH remained neutral (7) in the entire park’s water
resources. Boreholes temperatures varied slightly between Laribanga (23.7ᵒС)
and Mole (27.8°С) whereas, EC differed significantly (p<0.05) between Mole
dam 1b (47.6 µS/cm) and Mole pool (2181 µS/cm). A few water sources
exhibited lower TDS, though higher figures also exceeded the Ghana EPA
standard (100mg/L), reducing its safety for recreational occupancy. Prognosis
integral responses towards improving these water resources by redefining
acceptable quality index, modelling of synergies using existing park’s natural
resources databases could posterity wise, secure, or improve ecotourism
benefits.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Tiimub, B. M., Obiri-Danso, K., Dartey, E., Amankwah, R., Kuffour, P. A. A., Tiimob, R. W., ... & Baani, I. (2020). Strategic environmental assessment of visitor perception, ebola risk factor, and water quality of mole national park for sustainable ecotourism functions. Journal of Tourism Hospitality and Environment Management, 5(20), 16-52.