Influence of Landscape Maintenance on Users’ Experiences in Tourist Centres

Abstract

The diligent upkeep of landscapes in tourist centres is crucial not only for aesthetic reasons but also for fostering a sense of safety and security, ensuring a positive experience for visitors and preventing the degradation of the park environment. This study evaluates the influence of landscape maintenance on user experiences in selected tourist sites across Southwest Nigeria. This study employed primary and secondary data. Descriptive statistics, including percentages and index, were used. Six tourist centres were chosen, one from every state in southwest Nigeria. Of the 2,520 tourists to the tourist centres, 345 tourists (13.7%) were chosen by the accidental sampling technique, out of which 317 responses from respondents were received and analysed. The results show that users were generally satisfied with the cleanliness and maintenance of the elements. Specifically, with an average Users’ Satisfaction of Maintenance Indices (USMI) of 4.20. The results obtained show strong satisfaction with the cleanliness of tourist centres, with 4.34, while satisfaction with the regular upkeep and maintenance of landscape elements was 4.15. Maintenance of vegetation (trees, shrubs, and lawns) had 4.07, maintenance of lighting had 4.47, and maintenance of signage and information boards had 4.21. When considering the impact of landscape maintenance predictors on user satisfaction, the coefficient values of the multiple regression equivalences showed that the maintenance of water features (ponds, fountains, and streams) had the most significant impact on users’ satisfaction with β = 0.362, p < 0.00. The study shows that landscape maintenance has consequences on users’ experience in tourist centres.