Analysis Of Community Based Tourism Initiatives Growth Among Ruralcommunities In Western Uganda. A Case Study Of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

ABSTRACT

The study on the "Analysis of Tourism Community Based Tourism Initiatives among Rural

Communities" was canied out in Western Uganda with specific aims of; estimating the

contribution of COBATI in the growth of the community through exploring the important

economic drivers within the local livelihoods; establishing the challenges experienced in the

promotion of COBATI to suggest possible solutions for promoting COBATI. A review of

related literature was carried out on already existing information on the specific aims of this

paper as a way of comprehending the problem and emiching and supplements the study

findings. The study relied on a qualitative research design under which questionnaires were

administered and interviews were conducted with community members, forest department as

well as local leaders and tourists.

It was established that, the economic drivers included; government revenue., improved

incomes, employment oppmtunities, infrastructure development, capacity building and

instabilities in the neighbouring countries. The challenges experienced in the promotion of

COBATI included lack of inclusiveness of the community (partial representation), unhealthy

living conditions, illegal activities, conuption and unbalanced growth, however solutions

were suggested to improve on the situation which were gazetting, improving indigenous

knowledge and conditions of living, educating travellers, and uplift existing cultural sites.

The study concluded that, tourism has driven responses that stimulate growth, although this

growth has not been a balanced one calling for more sensitization and empovverment to uplift

the marginalised tribes like the Batwa.

The study recommends; Government embarkment on promotion of unique tourist features,

promoting private sector investment in ecotourism, adequate funding of the Uganda Wild life

Authority, evacuate Batwa to distant areas from the forest, and improving the security in the major touristic areas.