The Social Economic Effects Of Tourism Development To The People Since The End Of The 1994 Genocide In Rwanda, Case Study Of Musanze District

ABSTRACT

The study examined the social economic effects of tourism development to the people since

the end of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Objectives that guided the study included; to

examine the benefits of tourism to the people in Musanze district since 1994, to examine the

challenges to tourism development in people in Musanze district since the end of the 1994

genocide and to establish strategies through which the social economic life of the people in

Musanze district may be improved through Tourism.

The study was both descriptive and analytical in nature where it based on primary and

secondary data to establish the magnitude of the study. Primary data based on quantitative

and qualitative data designs. Qualitative data designs included; interviews, observation and

Focus Group Discussions. Quantitative data were gathered through questionnaires.

Documentary analysis was the basis upon which secondary data were gathered. A total of 60

respondents were employed and answered the research questions where purposive sampling

was used in selecting the respondents.

The study found out that, the major benefits from tourism were; increased tourism receipts,

institutional development, infrastructural development, international exposure, employment,

renewal of cultural pride, environmental conservation, and improved security. The major

challenges were; inadequate capital, low levels of education, inadequate facilities, inadequate

labour, threat from poachers and wild animals, inadequate exposure, limited tourist

attractions, population increase, demonstration effect and limited access to natural resources.

Strategies of the social economic life may be improved were suggested as; injecting more

capital, creating other forms of employment, training more manpower, designing appropriate

policies, sensitizing people, more advertising , seeking international funding, importing more

wild animals and enhancing family planning.