Effects of institutional arrangements and policies on community participation in wildlife tourism in Africa

Abstract

This study examines the effect of policies and institutional structures on the ability of communities to participate in wildlife tourism in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The research utilized a qualitative approach with two case study sites being Askam (South Africa) and Tsabong (Botswana). The study incorporated 17 semi-structured interviews with tourism stakeholders and 2 focus group discussions with members of the 2 communities, all of whom were purposely selected. It was found that although governing policies from the two countries were generally supportive, the specific park policies were seen to limit the contribution of wildlife tourism to communities' livelihood. Additionally, the institutional arrangements present in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park formed some barriers to community participation. Overall, the research provides insight on host community participation in wildlife tourism in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park using a cross-border perspective.