An Assessment of the Relationship between Road Network Connectivity and Tourists’ Patronage in Lokoja Metropolis, Kogi State

Abstract

The study assessed the Relationship between Road Network Connectivity and Tourists’ Patronage in Lokoja Metropolis. Gamma index was adopted to measure road network connectivity level. The result revealed that the level of road network connectivity in Lokoja metropolis is just 40% which is an indication of a low level of road network connectivity among the Tourists’ attractions and Hotels in the area. The result from road network accessibility using the Shimbel index also revealed that Kogi Hotels Ltd. With lowest Shimbel index of 24 is the most accessible and the most patronized accommodation facility with an average monthly patronage of 45 among all hotels and tourists’ attractions considered for this work. The relationship between road network accessibility and the level of tourists’ patronage was measured using Pearson Moment Correlation and a result of 7% level of relationship was obtained which is considered to be too low for a strong relationship. This means that there is no significant relationship between the level of road network accessibility and tourists’ patronage in the study area, suggesting that the level of road network connectivity and accessibility could not completely explain the level of tourists’ patronage in the area. It is therefore recommended that further study should be conducted to determine other factors that account for the level of tourists’ patronage in the area.

Keywords: Road Network Connectivity, Hotels, Tourist Attractions, Patronage and Relationship.