Local community participation and sustainable tourism development :

Abstract

The study was carried out with the purpose of finding out the role of local community participation on sustainable tourism development. The objectives for the study was; To find out the role of economic sustainability on sustainable tourism development , to find out the role of environmental sustainability on sustainable tourism development and to find out the role of socio cultural sustainability on sustainable tourism development. The researcher applied both qualitative and quantitative techniques in designing the research. A total of 38 respondents participated in the study and were selected using random sampling method. The data was collected using questionnaires and interviews and presented using tables, graphs and pie charts for easy analysis. The study looked at economic sustainability, environmental sustainability as major way of sustainable tourism development in most part of the world .The tourism industry was one of the most important sectors of a nation’s economy as they provide and create jobs, especially during times of holidays (summer break); they are a source of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit; they harness individual creative effort; and they create competition and are the seed bed for businesses of the future The study also highlighted negative and positive effect of local community participation on sustainable tourism development. It relied on content analysis from the existing studies, and the outcome revealed that local community participation constitutes to sustainable tourism development. It was however recommended that since tourism industry plays a great role towards community livelihoods the government should lay strategies in order to improve on the sustainability and growth of the tourism industry and livelihoods of the local communities It was also recommended that the government develops different strategies such as strengthening of tourism association, exempting some tourism establishment from paying taxes and looking for investors to invest in the sectors and others and promote the industry.