ADOPTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES (RET) IN TOURISM INDUSTRY- (A CASE OF OSOGBO AND OLORUNDA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA)

Hotel accommodation in Nigeria is comparatively more expensive than its neighbours in the sub region of West Africa. It is one of the most expensive globally. This is attributable to its operating environment. Any sustainable means of reducing running costs would be most welcome. A study on adoption of renewable energy technologies (RET) was conducted in Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Areas of Osun State, Nigeria. Data were obtained from registered hotels in the two local government areas through structured questionnaires. Results were presented descriptively. Knowledge and awareness about RET were high among the managers of the hotels with 82.5%. Solar energy technology was the most popular among the respondents with 65.0%, while radio and internet constituted the highest sources of knowledge and awareness with 30.0% and 22.5% respectively. Among the hotels, 30.0% have adopted RET with the level of adoption stated to be moderate and low with 41.7% respectively. Solar energy technology was the most RET adopted with 83.3% of respondents. Among the hotels that have not adopted RET, 92.9% were willing to adopt RET, with all of them (100%) willing to adopt solar energy. However, 7.1% of those currently not adopting RET had previously adopted solar energy technology. Cost of maintenance of the technology, lack of expertise in maintenance and lack of spare parts were ranked first, second and third respectively as reasons for discontinuance of adoption of the technology. For the hotels that have adopted RET, appreciable savings (15%) on cost of running was made, encouraging the provision of gym and outdoor recreational facilities, thereby leading to physical wellness of their customers. There is need for major policy shift by government in favour of solar energy technology and adoption. This policy should not be on awareness alone, but also in the provision of solar energy backbones and infrastructures, training and capacity building in installation, equipment parts and maintenance of the technology in order to increase and sustain adoption in tourism sector.