Tourism contribution and poverty alleviation: a case study of MT Elgon National Park, Mbale District.

Abstract

The study was carried out with the aim of finding out tourism contribution on poverty alleviation a case study of MT elgon national park in Mbale district. The objectives for the study was; to find out the role of percapita income on poverty alleviation, to find out the role of literacy levels on poverty alleviation. The researcher applied both qualitative and quantitative techniques in designing the research. A total of 30 respondents participated in the study and were selected using convenience sampling and random sampling method. The data was collected using questionnaires and interviews and presented using tables, graphs and pie charts for easy analysis. The study cited tourism as source of employment, source of government revenue, and they are the major source of foreign exchange earners in most part of the world .The industry is 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 tourism activities on poverty alleviation. It relied on content analysis from the existing studies, and the outcome revealed that tourism incomes is inimical and constitutes to poverty alleviation. It was however recommended that since tourism plays a great role towards community livelihoods the government should lay strategies in order to improve on the sustainability and growth of the tourism activities and livelihoods of the local communities.It was also recommended that the government develops different strategies such as formation of tourism association, formation of ministry of tourism and wildlife antiquity, exempting some tourism establishment from paying taxes and looking for investors to invest in the sectors and others and promote the industry