Does community-based ecotourism really benefit rural people in Tanzania?
Ecotourism can transform rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. These ventures generate income and encourage conservation of wildlife and natural resources. However, local governance issues and the control of natural resources determine the extent to which local communities or outside agencies benefit from tourism revenues. Tourists are attracted to rural areas by natural resources such as deserts, wildlife and forests. This is often referred to as ‘ecotourism’. Ecotourism offers a new source of income. This enables poor rural people to diversify their livelihoods and creates economic incentives to protect natural resources. However, the extent to which local people benefit economically depends on the extent to which they control tourism ventures. If outside organisations control tourism businesses, local people benefit very little, and may even suffer from the increasing numbers of people in the region. Research from the Sand County Foundation Community Based Conservation Network Ta
