The impact of community participation on the development of tourism within Murchison Falls National Park
Abstract
The study examined the impact of community participation on the development of tourism
within Murchison Falls National Park. The objectives of the study were to: identify and assess
the levels and modes of community participation in tourism development, assess the benefits of
community participation in tourism activities, examine the contribution of community
participation in tourism development, establish the challenges of enhancing community
participation in tourism development and suggest the solution to the challenges facing
community participation in tourism development.
The descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted because it provides a systematic
description that is as factual and as accurate as possible, (Amin 2005). The total target population
were the tourist attraction management / administrators, employees and community members.
The study was based on a sample size of 60 respondents. These included Murchison falls
administrators, tourist guides and local community members. A questionnaire was used because
it allows in-depth research, to gain firsthand information and more experience over a short period
of time (Kothari, 2008; Amin, 2005; Creswell, 2003). Interviews were person to person verbal
communication in which one person or a group of people were interviewed at a time.
It was concluded that local people should be consulted but the final decision on the tourism
development should be made by formal bodies when tourism companies are to make any tourism
development on their community. It was concluded that tourism development helps in the
creation of market. It was concluded that the better standard of living of the host has increased
because of tourism development which that tourism development has majorly contributed to a
better standard of living of the host community. It was concluded that failure of the
representatives of locals to get involved in decision making process, government officials to give
importance to the suggestions of locals. It was concluded that developing training programs
covering basic skills to those necessary for promotion and providing tangible support or
participation to a not-for-profit organisation or event.
It was recommended that there is a need for tour agencies to work together with the local
communities in the enhancement of tourism development in the local communities. It was
recommended that the local communities should work peaceful with the tour agencies in order to
allow improving standards resulting from tourism activities. It was recommended that ministries
and authorities for tourism should sensitize tour agencies to work closely with the communities
in order to improve tourism development. It was recommended that representatives of the local
communities should get involved in understand the community problems and address them in
order to improve local tourism development.