Survey of Tourists’ Preferences for Nature-Based Activities in Okomu National Park, Edo State, South South Nigeria

This study surveys tourists' preferences for nature-based activities at Okomu National Park in Edo State, South South Nigeria. Okomu is a significant biodiversity conservation area hosting forest elephants, chimpanzees, and rare bird species. Understanding visitor activity preferences is critical for park management to tailor programming that satisfies conservation and tourism objectives simultaneously. A descriptive survey design is adopted with 120 visitors participating through structured questionnaires during a three-month data collection window. Nature-based activity preferences assessed include forest trekking, bird watching, wildlife photography, guided nature walks, and cultural forest visits. Findings indicate that guided wildlife spotting tours are the most preferred activity among 73 percent of respondents, followed by forest photography experiences at 58 percent and bird watching at 47 percent. Female visitors show a stronger preference for guided group activities compared to male visitors, who more frequently prefer self-directed hiking trails. Dissatisfaction is noted with limited tour scheduling options and the absence of interpretive materials in local languages. The study recommends that Okomu National Park expand its guided tour schedule, develop printed and digital visitor guides, and introduce bird watching packages targeted at international ornithological tourism markets. Community involvement in tour guiding is also proposed to share economic benefits with surrounding communities while enriching cultural interpretation. Keywords: nature-based tourism, visitor preferences, Okomu National Park, ecotourism, wildlife tourism