Despite being endangered, the mountain gorilla (
The mountain gorilla (
Mountain gorillas are endemic to only three African countries, which are the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda.
Uganda’s Bwindi forest has afforded opportunities for ecotourism and economic growth through mountain gorilla tourism. Gorilla-viewing or trekking tourism involves tourists visiting the great apes in their natural habitation.
The current study examined the management of mountain gorilla tourism and its socio-economic contribution to selected stakeholders in Butogota, a rural community located next to BINP in Uganda. The article starts by delving into the Bwindi forest and presents relevant literature, offering a discussion of the impact of mountain gorilla tourism on communities. It also highlights the management strategies for monitoring mountain gorilla tourism. The article goes on to provide the research design and methodology for the study. The results are then discussed and elaborated, and finally, the conclusions and recommendations drawn from the study’s findings are presented.
The BINP is one of the world’s oldest, most complex and biologically diverse ecosystems.
Prior to the gazettement of Bwindi to a National Park, rampant uncontrolled human activities (e.g. settlement, logging, hunting, gold mining/panning, honey harvesting, pit sawing, etc.) within the forest threatened biodiversity, thus prompting authorities to strengthen conservation efforts.
When it comes to dealing with the disputes that arise between the park and the locals, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) came up with strategies to ensure that community members benefit from the PA.
The unique mountain gorilla tourism tends to create several benefits to the host communities.
The revenue-sharing scheme has also benefited several communities surrounding most national parks.
The Stakeholder Theory (ST) and Social Exchange Theory (SET) contextualise and guide the current study. The successful management of natural resources usually involves many stakeholders who may have a varying degree of interest. For an exchange to happen, there should be a mutual agreement between the stakeholders, thus necessitating the need to adopt two frameworks, the ST and SET to aid the understanding of the management strategies for monitoring gorilla tourism. The ST developed by Freeman
The SET was established by Ap
The study was conducted in Butogota Town Council in southwestern Uganda from January 2019 through to April 2019, near the borders of DRC and Rwanda (
Butogota town – The study area map
This exploratory and qualitative research study was conducted to identify the socio-economic contributions of mountain gorilla tourism. In addition, the study recommends the management strategies that could be adopted for a sustainable future mountain gorilla tourism development in Uganda. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with selected stakeholder groups in the Butogota area. These stakeholder groups included BINP staff, government officials, business owners, church leaders, educators and/or teachers and local leaders and/or headmen. For reporting purposes, the study participants were allocated an identifying number to help link the responses to the participating stakeholder groups (business owners – P1; religious leaders – P2; educationist and/or teachers – P3; BINP staff – P4; government officials – P5 and local leaders and/or headmen – P6) in the Butogota area. To gather the sample for the study, convenience and snowballing sampling approaches were used.
Key stakeholders for the study.
Stakeholder or participant | Total | Duration of service in Butogota (mean) | Gender classification |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Male | Female | |||
Business owners (P1) | 26 | 13.0 | 17 | 9 |
Religious leaders (P2) | 27 | 6.1 | 8 | 19 |
Educators and/or teachers (P3) | 54 | 8.0 | 31 | 23 |
BINP staff (P4) | 29 | 18.3 | 19 | 10 |
Government officials (P5) | 21 | 12.5 | 10 | 11 |
Local leaders and/or headmen (P6) | 30 | 23.8 | 26 | 4 |
BINP, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
In complying with research ethics and ensuring the integrity of this study, the researchers first sought permission from the UWA (Reference number: FOD/96/02). Uganda Wildlife Authority is a semi-autonomous government agency in Uganda that deals with the management and conservation of wildlife and natural resources. Secondly, the study was approved by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s Faculty of Business and Management Sciences Ethics Committee (Certificate Clearance number: 2018FBRC533) as this formed part of a student’s master project. The collected data were analysed through the use of the constant comparative method. This analysis technique is frequently used to code and analyse data from the developed concepts.
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Four stages of the constant comparative method were followed, and these included comparing incidents, integrating categories, delimiting and writing the theory.
To guarantee that data were collected from the appropriate participants, it was critical to include a description of those who took part in the study. Understanding participant profile was crucial as it provides context that could give meaning to the interpretation of the study findings. As a result, this study began by finding stakeholders or participants (P) who held the necessary and pertinent features to supply the researchers with the data necessary to accomplish the study’s purpose. A thematic analysis of 187 semi-structured interviews with specified stakeholders was done (see
Religious leaders who participated in this study had an average of 6.1 years of involvement with church activities in the study area, and this ranged from half a year to slightly above four decades. The majority of religious leaders were Christians, Uganda’s most widely practised religion.
The study participants indicated how they benefited from mountain gorilla tourism activities in their area. The responses varied from participants with contributions that included job creation, entrepreneurial opportunities, infrastructure development and many other benefits. The researchers were interested in understanding the extent to which mountain gorilla tourism operations benefit the churches in the study area and beyond, hence religious leaders were interviewed. Some religious leaders expressed satisfaction with gorilla tourism activities, for instance, one participant stated that they acquired their ‘holy book’, as reflected in this remark, ‘… we were given Bibles a few years ago’ (Religious leader, female, 38 years old, 4 years working as a pastor in the study area). Another pastor indicated how mountain gorilla activities benefit the youth, particularly job opportunities. The theme on jobs as seen in the findings is illustrated in the following excerpt, ‘… some new creativity and innovation have been created hence improving standards of living… money is earned as some do this as full-time jobs or means of making a living’ (Religious leader, male, 56 years old male, 7 years of working in study area).
The majority of business respondents admitted that gorilla tourism has impacted their operations in a variety of ways. Some business owners revealed that tourist activities in the area had led to the establishments of marketplaces for their products that aided in the expansion of their businesses. In addition, one business owner highlighted the significance of having tourism activities such as mountain gorilla tourism in the area as it also brings customers to business as evidenced by the following quote; ‘… tourism in this area has enabled my business to grow and mostly in a positive way … tourists have formed part of my customers’ (Business owner, female, 48 years old, lived in the study area for 18 years). From the restaurant and accommodation sector, a guesthouse owner noted that tourists make use of the amenities at their establishments after the mountain gorilla-tracking activity as shown from the following quotation:
‘Indeed, mountain gorilla-tourism is helpful to us business-people; look at the number of tourists who come to track the gorillas, most of them, come and have lunch and breakfast at the guest house… I am happy and would like to see this kind of tourism growth. My children are at good schools, and this is possible because of tourism who (sic) support my business….’ (Business owner, male, 53 years old, lived in the study area for 16 years)
As previously stated, tourism activities in the area have resulted in local tourism products and artefacts finding a market thereby increasing profits for business owners. This was supported by the following excerpt; ‘… markets have been created thus the development of the business’ (Business owner, male, 33 years old, lived in the study area for 9 years), and ‘… more revenue has been realised from the tourists purchasing from our business’ (Business owner, female, 28 years old, lived in the study area for 6 years). Because tourism has provided villagers with several economic opportunities, it has uplifted their standard of living. Local infrastructure, such as road networks, leading to the key tourist attractions, has been renovated, and this has benefited local companies that also rely on this infrastructure. The roads should, however, be maintained and improved regularly. The Butogota town region has benefited from government projects, including rural electricity programs, which most stakeholders who took part in the study attributed to the area’s burgeoning tourism industry.
Excerpts from study participants: Benefits of mountain gorilla tourism.
Number | Excerpts on the current data |
---|---|
1. | ‘Been able to open up my African shop, and tourists buy from me’ (Business owner, female, 35 years old). |
2. | ‘employment opportunities for the youth …’ (Religious leader, male, 47 years old). |
3. | ‘Income generation through the selling of my art pieces’ (Teacher, male, 31 years old male). |
4. | ‘Improved on the infrastructure’ (Teacher, male, 34 years old). |
5. | ‘Rural electrification program extended to some parts of our area ….’ (Business owner, female, 35 years old). |
6. | ‘We have been able to open up a new branch in this area and therefore expanding’ (Business owner, male, 29 years old). |
7. | ‘I have made friends with some of the tourists, and we communicate on social media’ (Business owner, male, 55 years old). |
8. | ‘Tourism has boasted on my business … ‘(Business owner, male, 43 years old). |
9. | ‘Employment opportunities, Urbanisation of the area, rural electrification around the area.’ (Business owner, female, 39 years old). |
10. | ‘Increase in my customer numbers’ (Business owner, female, 48 years old). |
11. | ‘I was able to open up my shop’ (Business owner, female, 35 years old). |
12. | ‘I have been able to construct my guest house and expand it’ (Business owner, male, 53 years old). |
13. | ‘Supplied new services to the community’ (Business owner, male, 40 years old). |
Arts and crafts businesses in the area have been supported by activities associated with mountain gorilla tourism taking place in the Botagota area through the buying of souvenirs and other artefacts. However, one responder voiced concern about severe rivalry amongst businesses as extracted from the except, ‘… some tourists buy from me, but there is also too much competition which requires us to look at ways to become competitive, for example stocking a variety of wares…’ (Business owner, male, 41 years old, lived in the study area for 15 years). Because of the strong competition amongst businesses, it also stimulated the delivery of quality products and services. Generally, the findings revealed that whilst others perceived the benefits from mountain gorilla tourism to be more positive to them, the other participating groups do not share the same sentiments.
In determining the ways to improve mountain gorilla tourism activities in the study area, the participants were requested to suggest mountain gorilla tourism management strategies best suited for the sustainability of this unique tourism product. The study revealed seven themes for the desired management for mountain gorilla tourism, and these are summarised below:
fighting corruption
controlled access and more conservation
involving more local participation
infrastructure development
deal with poaching
training of staff
local empowerment.
According to the study’s findings, measures for combating corruption were frequently mentioned during the interviews. Some locals were concerned about corruption, particularly the unequal distribution of tourism benefits, and believed that the government should establish strict anti-corruption policies and procedures to deal with the issue head-on. The same finding corresponds with that of Tumusiime et al.,
The issue of removing corruption was a recurrent theme in the responses, with company owners suggesting that the government must enact stringent steps to combat it. It is widely acknowledged that corruption is widespread and more pervasive in the Global South than in the Global North.
The Ugandan government established PAs in an endeavour to protect the nation’s wildlife.
The study emphasised the importance of involving locals in tourism development. Furthermore, their participation in the management of the park was highlighted as fundamental. The participation of locals especially in tourism development is considered essential for the success of the industry.
English and Ahebwa
A question was posed to government officials who took part in the study, asking them to identify any new methods that the government, in collaboration with the UWA, should use to improve mountain gorilla tourism in Butogota. For decades, a number of strategies have been used to improve mountain gorilla management. These strategies included, complying with the group size (8 people max) rule, restricting access to sick visitors (not allowed to trek), maintaining the viewing distances (> 7 m) and many others.
The study identified poaching as the main threat to wildlife growth. In dealing with poaching, a government representative stressed the significance of instituting unsympathetic measures to fight corruption, ‘…strict laws should be put in place to fight poachers and the people breaking the laws’ (Government official, male, 54 years old, 16 years living in the study area). Investment in ‘knowledgeable staff’ (Teacher, male, 34 years old, 10 years living in the study area) such as rangers and guides, was identified as an alternative way of making Ugandan trekking of the gorillas more competitive. It is vital for tourism, including mountain gorilla tourism, to have workers who are highly professional, ethical, transparent and willing to partake in the conservation of wildlife:
‘Replace the staffs (sic) who are transferred to other centres rather than leaving a few staffs (sic) doing more work, … it is important to train more guides and other staffs (sic) and these need to come from the area – local employment ….’ (Government worker, male, 54 years old, 16 years living in the study area)
Following the study’s findings, it is recommended that the Ugandan government take additional steps to develop management plans and policies in order to better manage mountain gorillas in their natural environment. Some of the stakeholders did not appear to comprehend these methods, despite the fact that they are critical.
A question on whether the business respondents thought the mountain gorilla management practices are linked to how their companies ran were beneficial or detrimental was asked. This was critical to obtain information from business owners because it might be essential for the government when developing policies that might have an impact on small- and medium-sized business. When asked this issue, the responses were diverse, with some stating that the strategies were advantageous, whilst others expressed dissatisfaction with the high levels of taxation paid on their businesses. Some of the techniques, according to a business owner, were beneficial and allowed for the expansion of the company. However, some appeared unfavourable, particularly in the area of taxation, ‘… some strategies are favourable, but taxation is high hence reducing our profits’ (Business owner, male, 33 years old, 9 years living in the study area). The favourable strategies cited by the participants were associated with easy access to funding as indicated in the following quotation; ‘… the government has given us loans that we have used to start up our business’ (Business owner, male, 43 years old, 8 years living the in study area). Businesses, in general, benefit from favourable government interventions, one of which is the decrease of product-related taxes, as illustrated in the following excerpt, ‘… there is reduced taxes on some of our imported products’ (Business owner, male, 53 years old, 16 years living in the study area). However, one participant who owns an art and craft business had a different view regarding the laws that were felt to be discriminatory, ‘… the government has discriminated us and is only supporting foreign investors’ (Business owner, male, 41 years old, 15 years living in the study area). As a result of the research, it was discovered that business owners had differing opinions regarding the various government policies governing gorilla tourism. The Ugandan government must educate the public about its policies and strategies in order for them to better understand and appreciate this type of tourism in the future.
Collaboration at different levels was identified as one of the practical strategies to be adopted by the Ugandan government to propel its tourism. The participants in the study were unanimous in their belief that tourism stakeholders should explore collaborating, and that these collaborative activities in tourist marketing might occur at the inter-governmental level. For example, a teacher stated that for a plan to be competitive, governments must collaborate as shown from the quote, ‘… the government of Uganda should work hand in hand with the government of Rwanda to improve gorilla tourism’ (Teacher, female, 35 years old, 12 years living in the study area). Gursoy et al.
Mountain gorilla tourism plays a crucial role in wildlife conservation and thus contributes significantly to national economies. In Uganda’s parks, gorilla tracking generates vital funds for conservation programs. Local communities scattered around the parks also benefit from tourism, thus encouraging them to support conservation efforts. This support has resulted in limited illegal activities such as poaching, logging and human encroaching into the park periphery as they benefit from the PA. However, more can be done to ensure that locals benefit from tourism activities in their area. This could include continuous maintenance of roads, expansion of infrastructure, ways to deal with corruption, empowerment of locals and controlled access into the PA by following the stipulated guidelines. The study should assist park authorities in partnership with relevant stakeholders to promote community-based tourism products and services that enhance local skills development, create job opportunities and offer long-term prospects for the park to exercise conservation initiatives of the mountain gorillas as they promote ecotourism. Finally, the results of this study could also contribute to the body of knowledge on ecotourism and policy development which in turn could assist in improving the benefits of mountain gorillas to the local people. With the challenges that have been brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, it could be recommended that a comparative study to assess the socio-economic impacts during and post the pandemic era be undertaken. This may reveal the shift in locals’ perceptions on the ways in which mountain gorilla tourism is managed in Uganda and other destinations offering similar tourism products.
The researchers would like to acknowledge the residents of the Butogota Town Council, for participating in this study. Also, a special mention goes to the Uganda Wildlife Authority for granting permission for the study to proceed.
Sections of this manuscript are published in a thesis submitted by Imelda Amony in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology: Tourism and Hospitality Management in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology entitled: ‘The impact of mountain gorilla tourism: Perspectives of the management of the attraction’. Supervisor: Professor JP Spencer, April 2021. Refer:
The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships which may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.
G.M., W.M., C.N.D. and I.A. all contributed equally to this work.
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analysed in this study.
The views expressed in the article are those of the authors and not of the institution or the funder.