Assessment of Challenges and Potentials of Osunosogbo Sacred Grove Among Staff of National Commission for Museum and Monument, Osogbo, Osun State Nigeria

The importance of tourist site cannot be overestimated because of their unique roles in social, cultural and economic development. It boosts local economies by attracting tourists and promotes outdoor recreation. However, lack of knowledge of the challenges and their potentials still constitutes a clog in the wheel of their development. This study assessed challenges and potentials of OsunOsogbo Sacred Grove among staff and tourists in Osogbo metropolis, Osun State Nigeria. Descriptive survey design was adopted. Questionnaire was used as instrument to collect data. One hundred males and females participated in the study. Multiple regression statistics was used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that there is a positive significant relationship between challenges, potentials and site development. There is a relative contribution of challenges, potentials and polices towards OsunOsogbo Sacred Grove development. Funds, lack of security and safety, poor facilities, inconsistence polices negatively influence the development of OsunOsogbo Sacred grove. Based on these results, it was recommended that government should provide adequate funding to provide necessary facilities for the site, where government funding is not visible government should work with private tourism investors to provide some of the facilities. Also, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) should change their policy on usage of revenue being generated from activities in Osun Osogbo Sacred grove by retaining certain percentage of the revenue for carrying out conservation and maintaining safety and security at the site. The study is significant to NCMM, Bureau of Tourism Development State of Osun and Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation.

Keywords: Potentials, Challenges, Tourism, Development and Osun-Grove.