Heritage Tourism: The Back-and-Forth among Tourists, Sites and Residents

Heritage tourism destinations attract a heterogeneous number of players each with significantly different interests at the expense of residents. Therefore, this study assesses impacts and patronage of heritage tourism sites on the host communities in Osun State, Nigeria. Data for this study was derived through questionnaire administration. Random sampling without replacement was used to select eleven (11) heritage tourism sites in which two hundred and twenty-two (222) questionnaires were administered to the residents. The findings revealed that propelling factors of an influx of tourists to heritage sites are socio-economic (33.06%), service (17.75%), mobility (12.77%) and management (10.78%), and the possible outcomes are both positive and negative, which were further categorized into social, economic and environmental impacts. The implications of this study revealed the prominence of social drawbacks such as an increase in prostitution, traffic congestion, and noise pollution, among others, in the areas accommodating heritage tourism sites, hence working out appropriate policies for proper guidance concerning heritage tourism sites, tourists and residents is highly recommended.