Assessing the community perception of tourism as an alternative to effective natural resource use, the case study Bunyaruguru sub-county Rubirizi district in western Uganda.

Abstract

The study was conducted in Bunyaruguru sub-county in Rubirizi district with the objectives of finding out the Community perception. of using the key natural resources to provide tourism services relative to other uses, establishing the different ways in which the community participate in promoting the tourism sector and identifying the best practices to enhance or maintain the current level of community participation in the tourism sector. Using purposive sampling respondents were chosen from different categories that is business persons, professionals' and peasants. 50 questionnaires containing closed and open-ended questions were used to obtain data information concerning the natural resources, benefits. derived from tourism by the community; how the Community can participate. in tourism and the relationship between the community and the district authority. Face to face interviews especially for the illiterate respondents were conducted using the questionnaire. The findings indicated that the most tourist attracting natural resources were wild animals, lakes and rivers. The community preferred to use rivers and lakes for fishing, swimming and getting water for domestic uses rocks for extraction of stones for construction and vegetation for fuel wood, Limber and for creating space for agriculture while wild animals and the rift valley were preferred for tourism than other uses. The findings further indicate that the community participates in tourism by being hospitable and conserving the natural resources for tourism. 1n addition, collaborative management, education and sensitisation on best practices to enhance or maintain the current level of community participation in the tourism sector. There is still need for community involvement in the tourism sector especially through collaborative management, sensitisation and education of the community on the tourism benefits and natural resource conservation.