Social and economic contribution of tourism at Bujagali falls on the adjacent local communities.

Abstract

In Uganda, tourism is recognized and prioritized as one of the sectors for economic growth, investment and development. As part of the effort to increase the understanding of the socioeconomic benefits of tourism to local communities, a study was undertaken in the villages adjacent to Bujagali falls. Data were collected through questionnaire interviews with community members and key informants. Turning to the results, the study revealed that tourism contributes to the economic development employment as the majority agreed that Locals are employed at the falls while the social contribution of tourism to local people included Community members easily networking with tourists and lastly encouragement of community members to engage in tourism-related businesses in the most used strategy to engage the local people in the participation of tourism. However it was also noted that much as tourism is contributing to the socio-economic development, there are problems associated with tourism such as hiking prices on commodities, prostitution regional imbalances among others. The study therefore recommends that all stakeholders involved in developing tourism such as the government should play their role in the development of tourism for its socioeconomic contribution to the local people adjacent to the tourist sites and the local people should be engaged in the tourism activities as early enough in the planning and decision making.In addition, the Bujagali administration should always engage in addressing the problems associated with tourism such as hiking prices by distinguishing products of the tourists from those of the locals and also ensuring sufficient security to the locals.