INTEGRATION OF LANDFORM AND CULTURAL DESIGN ELEMENTS IN THE DESIGN OF AN ECO-TOURIST RESORT, PLATEAU, NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT Eco-tourism the foundation of sustainable tourism development has emerged as catalyst for economic development for developing countries. The eco-tourist resort comprises of resort centres which focuses on visiting and dwelling in natural areas in order to learn, to study, to carry out environmentally friendly activities, that is tourism based on nature experience, which enables the economic and social development of local communities resulting in sustainable tourist practices. This thesis critically analyses Nigerian Eco-tourist resorts and the length of integration of landform and cultural design elements. By appealing to the descriptive method of research with the use of observation schedules, interviews, in-depth review of existing literature and purposefully selecting five eco-resorts in Nigeria. This research concludes that eco-resorts in Nigeria has integrated some key landform and cultural design elements ranging from the synergy of traditional and modern building materials, resort layouts as regards to landscape preservation and maximisation of views and adaptation of cultural elements as seen in the décor of some the selected eco-resorts, but equilibrium has not been achieved. Furthermore, a design proposal was developed from the findings that incorporated landscape and cultural elements in an eco-tourist resort in Miango, Plateau state, Nigeria. Hence there is a need to adopt recycling measure in eco-resorts and provide spaces for cultural galleries, in order minimize the environmental impacts and maximize the benefits on the local population, as well as propose homogenous designs in harmony with the locality.