Asian Research Consortium

Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities Vol. 3, No. 11, November 2013, pp. 1-15. ISSN 2249-7315

Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities

www.aijsh.org

Tourism Development and Host Communities Perceptions: The Case of Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
Chiedza Ngonidzashe Mutanga*; Sebastian Vengesayi**; Getrude Kwanisai***; Kumbirai Mirimi****; Candida Cecilia Chipotereke*****
*Travel and Recreation Department, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe. **School of Hospitality and Tourism, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe. ***Travel and Recreation Department, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe. ****Travel and Recreation Department, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe. *****Travel and Recreation Department, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe.

Abstract
The paper assesses the extent to which the impacts of tourism development in Mana Pools National Park affect Mukwichi communitys perceptions towards tourism and tourism development. Qualitative research methodology was used to investigate the impacts of tourism development on host communities and their effects on the communitys perceptions. The findings revealed that, besides losing control over their resources, the communities are incurring losses with no compensation, are not involved in decision making and therefore have negative perceptions towards tourism and tourism development. The study

Mutanga et al. (2013). Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, Vol. 3, No.11, pp. 1-15.

concludes that managing impacts and improving park-community relationships can increase local support for tourism development. The study suggests that the park should take initiative to change community perceptions by employing a bottom-up approach to tourism planning and development, encouraging community enterprise through Community Based Tourism Initiatives, training and education of the host communities and having a compensation scheme in place to cater for community losses.

Keywords: Tourism development, Host communities, Perceptions, Impacts. References

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