A study of water-based tourism in Ivunamba, Jinja district.
Abstract
The study examined water-based tourism in Ivunamba, Jinja District. The objectives were to profile the water-based tourist‘s attractions and activities in Ivunamba, Jinja District, to examine the benefits of water-based tourist‘s activities to the adjacent local community and lastly is to assess the challenges faced by the local community arising from water-based tourism activities in Ivunamba, Jinja district. A semi-structure questionnaire consisting of both open-ended questions and closed-ended questions was administered to 60 respondents and were randomly selected from the local community at Ivunamba, Jinja City. Data collected from the respondents was then encoded and analysed using SPSS version. 16. The study identified the various water-based tourist‘s attractions such as the Itanda falls, Bujagali Falls, Birds, Rivers, Islands, Rocks, Butterflies, water falls, Owen falls dam Caves and Busowoko falls. The study also identified different water-based tourism activities at Ivunamba, Jinja City which includes Bungee jumping, white water rafting, Biking, water tubing, Horse riding, Boat cruise, water slide, sightseeing, Bird watching, camping, swimming at the Nile, Nature walks within the community, sun bathing and fishing .Furthermore, the study also identified the benefits of water-based tourism to the adjacent local community which includes development of the local infrastructure such as roads and hospitals, employment of the local people, generating income through revenue spent by the tourist‘s, development of the local area, construction of electricity dams which lead to rural electrification with the area, creates market for the local products such as handicrafts and finally construction of Airstrip such as Kimaka Airstrip. And finally the study also identified the challenges faced by the local people arising from water-based tourism at Ivunamba, Jinja City which includes poor roads, homosexuality/ lesbianism, Drug abuse, less capital to invest in water-based tourism by the locals, theft, spread of STD‘s , Human trafficking , pollution by tourists vehicles, privatization of Bujagali and selling of Budondo land and school dropout and also suggested solutions to these challenges which includes providing condoms, penalties on those committing crimes such as theft, sensitization of the masses, creating more employment opportunities and finally construction of more roads.