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Authors
Abstract(s)
A more equitable distribution of tourism's benefits underscores the importance of inclusive tourism governance. Tourism governance has evolved to include the idea that all relevant parties should have a voice in decision-making. This study examined the role of community participation in the governance of tourism development and the level of community involvement in Tsavo National Park's tourism development. The study adopted a mixed methods approach incorporating in-depth interviews and questionnaires with select stakeholders, supplemented by secondary information from document analysis. First, the results indicate a disconnect between perception and the actual level of community participation in the governance of tourism development in Tsavo National Park (TNP). While the majority of the participants agreed on the importance of community participation in tourism development, most of them did not actively participate themselves. Second, the study reveals that community participation in Tsavo National Park is primarily characterized by manipulative or coercive involvement, where decisions and control predominantly lie with government authorities. Third, several barriers to community participation in the governance of tourism development TNP were identified. These barriers include a lack of trust in the government, financial constraints, the role of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in creating barriers to participation, and the cultural beliefs of community members. The findings also highlighted the importance of socio-demographics as significant predictors of community participation. The results suggest that improving community participation in the governance of tourism development in TNP requires a multifaceted approach that prioritizes empowerment, inclusivity, and collaboration. Considering these results, the study presents suggestions for improving tourism governance in TNP, including raising public understanding of the tourism sector and its potential and giving locals more agency within tourism policymaking. The study contributes both conceptually and in terms of policy as well.
Description
Keywords
Participação da comunidade Governança do turismo Desenvolvimento do turismo Parque Nacional de Tsavo Partes interessadas no turismo Community participation Tourism governance Tourism development Tsavo National Park Tourism stakeholders