The Impacts Of Local Communities On Tourism Development In Uganda A Case Study Op Queen Elizabeth National Park

ABSTRACT This study was done on the “impacts of local communities on tourism development in Uganda using a case study of Queen Elizabeth National Park.” The main objective of the study was is to analyze impacts of local communities on tourism development in Uganda using a case study of Queen Elizabeth National Park. It was carried out under the Following specific objective: to establish eonununiI~ related tourism sector activities in around Queen Elizabeth National Park, to assess the impa~ts ol~ community related activities in and around Queen Elizabeth National park and to establish the best management practices that involves local communities for tourism development in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The study was conducted in Local Government Authorities, Field Officers, Game rangers, and Uganda Wildlil~ Authority oihcers. Social Developers, Economic Developers, Elected Politicians and Members of the public. The study confirmed that the community related tourism sector activities in around Queen Elizabeth National Park, Wildlife research tours are the rewarding adventures where wild Afl’ican t~una and flora research is being done using the locator devices and learn hahitnatcd cal, monitoring the \veathcr and the surrounding allowing visitors to participate in monitoring ol’ unique birds and mammals, hiking is an active way to explore the landscape and wiidli Fe in the park like Mweya Peninsula, lshanshaa river where savanna species and spotting a variety of species is ClOne, cultural encounters where energetic dances are participated by cultural perl~rmers, salt harvesting at Lake Katwe, an agricultural village guides by local community members related tourism sector, launch trip place at Kanzinga channel an oasis for many ftiseinating species that inhabit the park like enormous .but’falos, elephants linger the shoreline where visitors that boast tours and view the species and tucked beneath [he shady canopy of Maramogambo forest is the hat cave which has a viewing room where visitors observe the resident bats and pythons and the en liumal cave experience at Nyanzibiri communily The research indicated that Queen Elizabeth National Park ~ as importance to local people s livelihoods supported by 75% (n60) of the respondents. ‘lhe respondents were flirther asked the activities that have contributed to the improvement 01 community livelihoods living around Queen Elizabeth Naflonal Park.