Developing natural lakes for socio-economic development: the case of Nike lake Enugu state, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the potentials and viability of Nike Lake, Enugu state for sustainable economic development in Enugu East Local Government area and its environs. The Nike Lake was purposively selected based on the location attributes and the potentials as identified during the reconnaissance survey. Data collection was through interviews and visitors’ records from Nike resort hotel registry. The level of accommodation patronage was also determined through secondary information of the hotel. The findings clearly show a fluctuation and unstable trend within the years under consideration (2011 and 2016). The study observed that if the resort is fully developed, packaged and advertised, there would be a rapid influx of visitors who would viz-a-vis boosts the socio-economic advancement of the state. Furthermore, it was discovered from the study population that the utilization of Nike lake resort is basically for film shooting, leisure and the snapping of pictures. This represented 30, 20 and 16% respectively. However, 76% of the visitors rated the lake hotel as not good and efficient to attract much economic activity as there were no events that could hold visitors for a long duration of time within the resort. Meanwhile, the study also established that lake resorts are vital tourist resource or asset that can be used to promote tourism at any destination and as such efforts must be made to develop and promote lake resorts in Nigeria.