<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This research assessed the local community's participation in protected area-based tourism planning at Majete Wildlife Reserve in Malawi. The assessment was based on the participatory planning elements from the community participation framework for protected area-based tourism planning. A qualitative research approach was applied, and both secondary and primary data sources were used. Content analysis was used to analyse the data. Results show that the reserve has a system that allows continuous local community participation in the planning process, with financial resources committed to support the process. Local people are represented by independent community-based organisations and traditional leaders during the planning processes. But the local communities have limited access to tourism information and tourism planning experts. The reserve also lacks an appropriate decision-making structure that can facilitate efficient flow of management decisions to local communities. There is need to empower local people and regard them as partners in the tourism planning processes so that they can influence decisions.</p>
</abstract>

This research assessed the local community's participation in protected area-based tourism planning at Majete Wildlife Reserve in Malawi. The assessment was based on the participatory planning elements from the community participation framework for protected area-based tourism planning. A qualitative research approach was applied, and both secondary and primary data sources were used. Content analysis was used to analyse the data. Results show that the reserve has a system that allows continuous local community participation in the planning process, with financial resources committed to support the process. Local people are represented by independent community-based organisations and traditional leaders during the planning processes. But the local communities have limited access to tourism information and tourism planning experts. The reserve also lacks an appropriate decision-making structure that can facilitate efficient flow of management decisions to local communities. There is need to empower local people and regard them as partners in the tourism planning processes so that they can influence decisions.

Community Participation in Tourism Planning at Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi

Quaestiones Geographicae

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Community Participation in Tourism Planning at Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi"}

This research assessed the local community's participation in protected area-based tourism planning at Majete Wildlife Reserve in Malawi. The assessment was...

Name of protected area	Size (km²)
Majete Wildlife Reserve	704
Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve	135
Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve	1,800
Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve	1,000
Kasungu National Park	2,100
Lengwe National Park	900
Nyika National Park	3,200
Liwonde National Park	548
Lake Malawi National Park	94

Stakeholder group	Male	Female	Number of participants
Local communities	11	5	16
African Parks	2	1	3
DNPW	3	0	3
Department of Tourism	4	0	4
Tourism operators	5	1	6
NGOs	4	0	4
Total	29	7	36

Community Participation in Tourism Planning at Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi

Data publikacji: 16 gru 2021

Zakres stron: 85 - 100

Otrzymano: 21 kwi 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2021-0035

Słowa kluczowe
community participation framework, Malawi, protected area-based tourism, tourism planning

© 2021 Felix G. Bello, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Protected areas in Malawi (wildlife reserves and national parks).

Profile of study participants.

Community Participation in Tourism Planning at Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi

Data publikacji: 16 gru 2021

Zakres stron: 85 - 100

Otrzymano: 21 kwi 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2021-0035

Słowa kluczowecommunity participation framework, Malawi, protected area-based tourism, tourism planning

© 2021 Felix G. Bello, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Protected areas in Malawi (wildlife reserves and national parks).

Profile of study participants.

Słowa kluczowe
community participation framework, Malawi, protected area-based tourism, tourism planning