CHARACTERISTICS OF TOURISM PRODUCTS
1. Intangibility
One of the characteristics of tourism products is that it cannot be touched. Tourism products are intangible so after using the product there is no physical proof that one has used it. For example, a tourist books a hotel and sleeps in his room for four days. When he checks out, there is no physical or tangible proof that he was in that hotel. There are no products to show proof of purchase.
2. Inseparability
Another feature of tourism product is that it cannot be separated from the provider, that is, it is inseparable. If a tourist enters a restaurant and orders food or drink, the person who is bringing the food or drink cannot separate him or herself from the food or drink being brought to the customer. The service provider and the service itself are conjoined.
3. Tourism products are perishable
Also a tourism product is perishable when it is not consumed at the time and point that it is provided. Let us say, for example, that a bus tour from Ibadan to Lagos in Nigeria has been arranged and tickets have been sold out. If a passenger is unable to be present on time to board the bus, the product perishes. That particular product cannotbe consumed again. It is lost. Similarly, if a tourist books a hotel at Lekki in Lagos but for some strange reason is not able to sleep in that room on the said date, that service is lost. He has to pay again to get another room on another day.
4. No ownership
The ownership of a tourism product is not transferable to the consumer. The consumer only owns the right to use the product because he has paid for it for a predetermined period of time or days. If a tourist pays for a hotel room, he or she has the right to use the room for the days that he or she paid for. After that he or she must vacate the room or pay for additional days if he or she wants to prolong the stay. The hotel continues to belong to the owner even if it is booked and paid for. Ownership does not transfer to the renter because he or she has paid for the room.
5. Customer participation
In the tourism industry, the customer by all means would have to partake in the delivery of the service being offered, otherwise, the service delivery would never be complete. In the industry, a product is being sold and a product is being consumed; there is no way this can happen without the customer getting involved. A tourist must be on a bus otherwise the service is not being consumed. If one pays for a hotel or a hotel is booked on a person’s behalf, the person must of necessity sleep in the hotel room for the product to be consumed.
6. Heterogeneous
Another characteristic of tourism product is that it is heterogeneous. In tourism, tourists make use of several services, including transport, hotels, restaurants, car rentals, and many types of indoor and outdoor recreational activities. However, what a tourist experiences at one place is not similar to the one experienced at another place. Even in the same restaurant, since there are many servers, the way one customer is served may not be the same as the way another is served simply. The element of the human factor creates a difference between one product and the other. Two different bus companies could transport tourists to the same destination but the tourists would have different stories to tell just because the drivers are different.
Immovability
Another feature of tourist product is immovability. A tourist attraction such as a waterfall, mountain, beach, flora and fauna cannot be moved from where it is originally located to another place. Heritage sites have to remain where they arebecause that is how the tourist will enjoy and have value for his money. It is practically impossible to move a hotel or restaurant from where it is to another place without destroying the edifice.
THEME: TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN NIGERIA AND THEIR LOCATIONS
The most populated country in Africa, Nigeria has become an untapped tourist paradise with long stretches of exotic beaches, lush mountains, well preserved tradition and culture and enchanting tourist attractions.
From the spiritual shines to the ancient cities of the north, from the river deltas to the Yoruba kingdoms, the Ibo’s stunning environments and among many simply pure sceneries; Nigeria leaves every visitor breathing hard with suspense and excitement. We present to you top attractions in Nigeria:
1. The Ibeno Beach
A blissful destination for tourists stretched over 245km on a sand bank in Ibeno lies the
Ibeno Beach, a little haven for leisure seekers. The roaring waves, spots for sunbathing,
unpolluted foliage of the mangrove forest, cool breezefrom the water and a lush surrounding give this destination an unimaginable allure for tourists. Location: Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State
2. Obudu Mountain Resort
Above the sea level on the Oshie Ridge of the famous Sankwala Mountains sits majestically the Obudu Mountain Resort. The temperate climate, breathtaking views, idyllic tranquility and beautiful scenery has made this resort one of the famous tourists’ sites in Nigeria. Location: Obudu, Cross River State
3. Ngwo Pine Forest
The unique forest dynasty that is found in Ngwo Pine is a huge draw for visitors, romanticallyset by Mother Nature with sharp twists for adventure seekers, beautifully set pine trees and gently flowing stream for lovers, and the loud splashing of the waters inside the dark cleft inside a cave would blow off one’s imagination. Location: Ngwo, Enugu State
4. Awhum Waterfall
Awhum boasts of numerous immaculate lakes, waterfall and a monastery. The waterfall
forms beautiful scenery where water cascades over its top forming a stream, which has become a religious tourist site.It is close to the Awhum Monastery. Location: Awhum, Enugu State
4. Arochukwu Long Juju
Slave Route The sacred altar, a six foot gully that takes people to the temple and the waterfall in Arochukwu Long Juju Slave route, beg tourists to explore the shrine of Ibn Ukpabi and the cult momument of Kamula. Location: Arochukwu, Abia State
6. The Giant Footprintof Ukhuse Oke
In a sacred grove where prehistory meets the modern, between a village called Ukhuse-oke and Ukhuseosi lies this distinct footprints of a prehistoric giant that are embedded permanently on flat granite rocks. Location: Owan, Edo State
7. Port Harcourt Tourist Beach
If you are looking for a destination where you can run away from the bustling life of a city; one that is built on an artificial sand beach, Port Harcourt Tourist Beach is where you should be. It is a leisure hub along Kolabi Creek. Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers State
8. Gashaki-GumptiNational Park
A national park that offers a fascinating insight into life in medieval times in Nigeria is the Gashaki-Gumpti National Park. It is located within the Chappal Wadi, Mountain, Chappal Hendu and the Mountain of Wind. It isNigeria’s largest and most diverse National Park.
Location: Gashaki-Gumpti, Taraba State
9. Alok Ikom Monoliths
300 carved stones standing upright in circles, facing each others in groups with images
and texts inscribed on the monoliths are how you would see Alok Ikom Monoliths (UNESCO World Heritage Site) that are in form of a phallus. Location: Ikom, Cross River state
10. Isaac Boro Garden Park
Isaac Boro Garden Park is situated opposite the Mile One Bridge along the Old GRA in
Port Harcourt. Today, it has become a tourist location where baseball and softball are played and a center for trade fairs andlive entertainment. The tomb of Major Isaac Boro, a soldier killed in the Nigeria Biafra Civil War lies here.
11. The Tinapa Free Zone & Resort
The charm of Calabar mingled with the taste of its rich culture gives Tinapa Free Zone &
Resort that magnificent scenario that mesmerizes tourists. It has 860,000 sq ft lettable retail space, an entertainment strip that houses a digital cinema, restaurants, a mini amphitheater, casino, and children’s arcade, a Studio Tinapa for Nollywood, a night club and pubs. Visit: Tinapa Free Zone and Resort. Location: Calabar, Cross River State
12. Osun-Osogbo Grove
This is the only tourist destination in Nigeria that has sacred shrines, sanctuaries, sculptures and art works that are created in the honour of the goddess of fertility, Osun. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated along the Oshun River. Location: Oshogbo, Osun State
13. The Emotan Statue
Located opposite the Oba market in Benin City- Emotan Statue stands majestically, clad
in her traditional wrapper and a headgear that is associated with royalty in the Benin Kingdom. Location: Benin, Edo State
14. The Royal Palace Of Oba Of Benin
The royal palace of the Oba of Benin is a UNESCO listed heritage site, centrally located
near the King’s Square. It holds a huge collection of sculptural pieces of a lot of Benin Obas in bronze, ancestral shrines and ivory. Location: Benin, Edo State
15. Sukur Cultural Landscape
Madageli- is the home of the Sukur cultural landscape is populated with traditional cemeteries and ritual terraced areas. Blessed with lush avifauna and situated on top of
the Mandara Mountains. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Location: Madageli, Adamawa State
16. Queen Amina’s Wall
In the city of Zazzau (Zaria) was built well-fortified walls to protect the ancient city by Queen Amina of Zaria, who isrenowned for her wise military exploits and strategies so many years. This wall still stands majestically in the modern city of Zaria. Location: Zaria, Kaduna State
17. Surame Cultural Landscape. Location: Surame, Sokoto State
18. Oban Hills, Cross River State
Korup National Park of Cameroon shares a border with the Oban Hills. Home to a lot of
wildlife and plants; and this is one of the few places on earth you can find the Xavier’s Green Bull the Cassin’s Hawk eagle, Crested Guinea fowl, Bat Hawk and over 400 Chimpanzees lives here. Location: Oban,Cross River State
19. Oke-Idanre Hill
A visit to the Oke-Idanre Hill gives a tourist access to a lot of spectacular valleys that are
interspersed with inselbelgs and high plain about the sea level. It is a UNESCO World HeritageSite that has Omi Aopara; the thunder water, Agbooogun foot print, burial grounds, shrinesand the Owa’s palace. Location: Oke-Idanre, OndoState
20. Ogbunike Caves, Anambra State
Ogbunike Caves make an idea tourists destination. These caves are closely associated with historical and spiritual significance. There are 317 steps that need to be used to descend down to the caves. It is a UNESCO Heritage Site. Location: Ogbunike, Anambra State
21. Ancient Kano City Walls
There are much more to the beautiful medieval city of Kano when you see the impressive ancient Kano walls (listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites’ tentative list) . This 14km radius earth monument has a spiritual, cultural and historical
significance. It is associated with the Emir’s Palace. Location: Kano, Kano State
22. Coconut Beach. Location: Badagry, Lagos State
23. Bar Beach. Location: Victoria Island, Lagos
24. Millennium Park
The Millennium Park is the largest public park in the capitalcity of Abuja. It is situated in
the Maitama district. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was the one who inaugurated the park that has become kids’ paradiseand a relaxation haven. Location: Maitama, Abuja
25. Nana Living History Museum. Location: Warri, Delta State
26. The Ancient Nok Settlement. Location: Jaba , Kaduna State
27. New Afrika Shrine
When you feel like getting lost in music from the legendary Fela’s family,the New Afrika
Shrine is where you should visit. This is the replacement of the original Shrine that was
burnt down. A cover charge of N500 is collected. It is located in Adeleye Street, Ikeja.
Location: Ikeja, Lagos State
28. Abuja Arts And Crafts Village: Location: Abuja
29. Kainji National Park
Kainji National Park was established in1978 which has 3 distinct sectors, the Borgu Game Reserve, the Zugurma Game Reserve and the Kainji Lake where fishing is
prohibited. It is situated in Kwara and Niger State. Location: Niger State
30. Yankari National Park
In Bauchi State is the 2,244 km2 Yankari National Park; a home to wildlife in the state’s
South-Central part. It houses a lot of natural warm water springs and it is the one of West Africa’s eco-destinations. Location: Bauchi State
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