Fair trade in tourism to protected areas­— A micro case study of wildlife tourism to South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

✍ Scribed by Cheryl D. Mvula

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 162 KB
• Volume: 3
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1099-2340
• DOI: 10.1002/jtr.349

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Wildlife tourism to protected areas is one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry. However, although tourism development brings rewards, its benefits are seldom distributed equitably. Host communities, particularly in the developing world, are increasingly counting the costs of development that has failed to put their rights and interests on a par with those of their visitors. This paper reports on the impacts of wildlife tourism to South Luangwa National Park, Zambia on the rural local communities that reside there. It assesses local people's attitude towards tourism in the area and solicits their views on how the benefits to the community could be increased. The findings of the research show that experience has so far encouraged the community to want more involvement with tourism and tourists. It indicates, however, that the benefits of tourism currently reach few local people and that in certain instances inequality and discrimination is evident in the employment practice of the local tourism industry. It goes on to highlight the range of factors that inhibit or constrain greater local involvement in tourism, and points to community tourism based on cultural heritage as a potential way of maximising the benefits of tourism to communities, while minimising the impacts. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.