Morphology Analysis of Niger Delta Shoreline and Estuaries for Ecotourism Potential in Nigeria - The Land/Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone of West and Central Africa - page 115

Plate 4 Cross River estuary landscape

Plate 5 Calabar River landscape

to contribute to local development and alleviate the plight
of the local communities in the region, therefore lies in the
development of a viable ecotourism industry.
The importance of ecotourism is evident, with global
spending on ecotourism increasing by 20 % annually, the
increase being about 6 times the rate of growth of the
general tourism industry, while greater interest in outdoor
activities has increased the scope of ecotourism. Ecotourism
also minimizes the ecological impact of modern-day tour-
ism since it travels with environmental sensitivity and is

Why Ecotourism a Lucrative Option in Niger
Delta Region

The Niger Delta could be a major tourist attraction because
of its rich cultural, historic, landscape and ecological
interest, and vast areas that could take advantage of the
growing worldwide demand for sustainable ecotourism at a
communal level (Plate 8 ). The need to sustainably develop
and conserve the region's natural resources, with potential