Global Journal of Management and Business Research, F: Real Estate, Event and Tourism Management, Volume 23 Issue 3

Buzzing opportunities: Integrating apitourism for enriching the tourism heritage of the Republic of Benin Global Journal of Management and Business Research ( F ) XXIII Issue III Version I Year 2023 9 © 2023 Global Journals Former tourist guide and site managers Improve and develop new apitourism materials and communication materials Proven tourism experiences. Not skilled in bee management Low reception capacity A new tourism heritage Over Carrying capacity of site Incapacity to update their facilities and to comply to new legal framework Research and training centres Propose performance and sustainability strategies for the sector Available staff Very few are skilled in apitourism New research and training fields Loss of notoriety in apitourism Governmental and local authorities Secure the different involved actors and their goods Security guards Ambitious to promote tourism in Benin Lack of reliable data base on beekeepers and tourism sites Opportunity for taxes and fees Increase in informal tourism sites. New security issues Riparian’s of apitourism site Cooperate with tourists and site owners Living in their own land No control on tourists and their behaviours Additional income and networks Desecrations and loss of endogenous values Shift of young to prohibited activities g) Components of the Dedicated Site to Bee-based Visits The development and establishment of apitourism sites must be based on a sound assessment of the carrying capacity and follow-up of tourist flows which varies according to the seasons and the prevailing local, national, and international events (Song et al. , 2023). The site's compartments will also allow visitors to save images of hives, nests, and their components without physical contact with the bees. The two main operational compartments for this purpose are: − The Exhibition and Exchange Room: It is the reception area from which the visits start and end. It bears communication and safety materials and offers the visitors the possibility to taste relevant hive products and learn bee services and functions that they are encouraged to implement at home. − The Observation Corridor of Hives and Their Contents: This compartment is specially equipped with a system of glass, mirror, and light intensity adjustment devices for the effective and secure visualization of the different individuals and functional principles of a hive or bee hotel. Regarding solitary bees, which do not present much sting hazards, their nests can simply be installed at the bee hotel with those of Melipona while keeping an eye on the associated insects, such as wasps which present some risks as described above. h) Key Apitourism Communication Themes Many themes may be developed at the apitourism sites and this calls upon the experiences, knowledge, and skills of the apitourism guides. They mainly focus on the biology, ethology, ecology, socio- economic aspects, apitherapy, and alternative medicine of bees and their products and the challenges they face (Lebuhn & Vargas 2021; Johnson and al., 2023). The apitourism guide may use communication tools such as video projectors, posters, and live materials to convince his audience. The following themes are essential and will be improved in cooperation with the stakeholders, the dynamics of bee conservation challenges and site management requirements. − Knowledge of the Hive and its Components: This is a case-by-case description of the honey bee, and mellipona hives, the different individuals that live in each type of hive, the products it bears and how they are made by the bees. The different types of hives in the country or region may be put in the exhibition room for the gradual reconstruction of the country's beekeeping history. − Bee Diseases and Enemies: The site manager shares with visitors the leading diseases, the biotic and abiotic factors that impact bees in the country. The systematic groups of pathogens, and their mode of propagation will also be analysed without obscuring the socio-cultural factors hindering the beekeeping development in the targeted region. The pathological relationships will help enlighten visitors on the risks of exchanges of diseases between plants, humans, and bees in an ecological area and the possibilities of using these relationships in biological controls against crop pests (Resci & Cilia; 2023) − Modern Biotechnology and Bees: It is an issue of great concern in our area of living-modified organisms (LMOs) development for crop yield improvement, and pest control (Duan et al. , 2008; Brookes, 2019). Facilitators will feed visitor expectations by addressing the potential impacts biopesticides, bactericides and plant varieties resulting from modern biotechnology may have on the conservation and sustainable use of bees and their services (Arpaia et al. , 2021). − Promotion and Tasting of Hive Products: Will close the apitourism tour. This allows visitors to register recommendations and suggestions for improving the services they received. This will also offer