Socio-economic effects of cultural tourism on host communities in Entanda traditional hunting and cultural experience

Abstract

This study aimed at examining the effects of cultural tourism on the socio-economic development of host communities. The objectives of the study were to (i) assess the cultural tourism activities at Entanda (ii) assess the economic effects of cultural tourism at Entanda and (iii) assess the social effects of cultural tourism. Data were collected using open and close-ended questionnaires, oral interview method was used in this study in a bid to collect vital data and this involved face-to-face interactions with the respondents. The questionnaire responses were edited, coded, double entry of results for accurate results before being transferred to SPSS to generate statistical summaries such as percentages. Results show that there are different tourism activities at Entanda like traditional food preparations, traditional hunting expeditions, traditional talks, traditional drumming and dance and fruit gathering. Host community people are affected by cultural tourism both economically and socially, positively and negatively which have brought about employment opportunities, increased standards of living and development of the area and also increase in some prices of products economically. Furthermore, the host community is socially affected by cultural tourism through preservation of culture, interactions with tourists resulting to study of new things, loss of culture and norms, change in social behaviors. There is need to help improve the lives of the people at Entanda and also boost the cultural tourism. Furthermore, the infrastructure such as roads should be improved and marketing of the destination increased to attract more tourists.