Enhancing Rural Livelihoods through Tourism Education and Strategic Partnerships: A Uganda Case Study
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Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tourism Analysis
Abstract
Recently, tourism has gained significant strides as a poverty reduction strategy for low income
nations, including Uganda, where poor people constitute 61% of Uganda’s population, living below
US$1 per day. In 2003, the Government of Uganda identified tourism as a priority export sector.
This article provides a Uganda case study that focuses on enhancing rural livelihoods through
tourism, specifically highlighting the interdependent themes of tourism training and partnership
development as aims of a University of Manitoba—Makerere University cooperative program.
Uganda is a country rich in natural and cultural resources with opportunities for sustainable tourism
providing local impetus to support the conservation of wildlife and natural areas. The key to
realizing this potential lies in the development of local capacity to research, manage, plan, interpret,
and profit from the resources that are the foundation of sustainable tourism. The two universities
are in partnership to develop a masters’ degree in sustainable community tourism. Specifically the
article describes the curriculum development process for a master’s degree in sustainable community
tourism at Makerere University, the creation of a strategic partners’ network for sustainable
tourism and biodiversity conservation, and the relationship between the two processes linking
higher education and community development with sustainable tourism. Challenges faced by the
Canadian and Ugandan project participants, as well as solutions, next steps for implementation,
and future research opportunities are also discussed.
Description
Keywords
Poverty alleviation, Community tourism, Uganda, Education, Partnerships
Citation
Campbell, J. M., MacKay, K., & Dranzoa, C. (2011). Enhancing rural livelihoods through tourism education and strategic partnerships: A Uganda case study. Tourism Analysis, 16(1), 5-17. DOI: 10.3727/108354211X12988225899921