COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS ON THE SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACTS OF ECOTOURISM IN CAMEROON

Abstract

Ecotourism is often premised on the involvement of locals, occurring within their immediate vicinity and having the potential to induce sociocultural impacts. This study investigated community perceptions of the sociocultural impact of ecotourism in Cameroon. A mixed method approach was adopted where 442 community surveys were administered to households in the Mount Cameroon National Park and the Douala Edèa Wildlife Reserve, whilst key informant interviews were also conducted with relevant officials. Key findings suggest that respondents’ perceptions of the sociocultural impacts are influenced by the level of ecotourism development in their regions, where areas with a higher level of development experience greater impacts. Sociocultural impacts tend to be positive, with respondents noting that ecotourism leads to valuable and enriching cultural exchanges, and an increased sense of pride. The results also highlight the importance of local community structures in leveraging positive sociocultural impacts and mitigating the negative. Thus, the paper argues that it is imperative that traditional community structures are recognised as a key strategic resource for ecotourism development and used to enhance ecotourism development in the region.