Visitors' Environmental Consciousness and Satisfaction with Beach Cleanliness at Eleko and Elegushi Beaches, Lagos State, Nigeria

Beach cleanliness is an important component of coastal tourism quality because litter can affect environmental conditions, visitor experience and perceptions of destination quality. This study examined visitors’ environmental consciousness and satisfaction with beach cleanliness at Eleko and Elegushi Beaches in Lagos State, Nigeria. Data were collected from beach visitors using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to assess visitors’ environmental consciousness, while chi-square analysis examined relationships between sociodemographic characteristics and environmental satisfaction/consciousness. Correlation analysis was used to determine the association between visitors’ satisfaction with beach cleanliness and their environmental consciousness. The findings showed differences in reported environmental-consciousness indicators between Eleko and Elegushi. At Eleko Beach, the mean scores for use of waste bins, participation in environmental education, and adherence to anti-littering signage were 2.64, 2.29 and 1.66, respectively, while the corresponding values at Elegushi were 4.43, 4.09 and 2.63. Income was the only socio-demographic characteristic significantly associated with visitors’ environmental satisfaction and consciousness (p = .047). Among the satisfaction indicators, signage prohibiting littering was significantly associated with visitors’ satisfaction with beach cleanliness (p = .001), whereas waste-bin adequacy, staff cleaning, environmental education and regular waste disposal were not statistically significant. The correlation between satisfaction and environmental consciousness was very weak at both Eleko (r = .0515) and Elegushi (r = −.0233). The findings indicate that improving physical cleanliness alone may not automatically produce stronger environmental consciousness among visitors. Beach managers should therefore combine visible environmental infrastructure with targeted education, behavioural communication and enforcement.