Abstract
Recently, community development schemes and tourism projects at rural communities have not been sustainable due to their perceived impacts by members of the host communities. This study conducted ethnographic investigations in five selected Igbo communities in Southeast Nigeria, to examine hosts’ perception of impacts of community development schemes and tourism projects. The study which lasted between 2011 and 2014 was able to find out some of these perceived impacts coupled with the consequences of hosts’ perceptions. The result has the potentialities of addressing these problems to maximize the gains of these project initiatives to the development of rural communities. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n5p361
Highlights
Community development’s schemes have been perceived as initiatives aimed at improving the lives of those living in the rural areas
These studies have helped in informing the positive potentialities of community development schemes and tourism projects in indigenous communities. They looked at some of the various challenges to that effect and possible solutions in different parts of the world. This current study studied the various challenges and opportunities of community development schemes and tourism projects in the selected communities from the study area; but more importantly the hosts’ perception of impacts from these projects, this host perception of impacts form one of the basic challenges of community development schemes and tourism projects in the study area
Having seen the major perceived impacts as discovered during ethnographic studies, it will be erroneous for someone to believe that these rural communities would accept imposition of community development schemes and tourism projects without further and detailed consultations, clarifications, collaborations and collective acceptance
Summary
Community development’s schemes have been perceived as initiatives aimed at improving the lives of those living in the rural areas. Tourism resources which are the major stimulators of tourism development in a place are grossly found in the Southeast Nigeria as noted by Oformata and Okafor (2002) in the following lines; In Igboland, the major elements which constitute the physical resources of tourism are the landforms, river bodies and banks, lakes, forests and wildlife. Most of these resources are yet in their raw state awaiting further development. This stage of development notwithstanding, these physical tourist resources engages sightseers from within and outside Igboland (Oformata & Okafor 2002:618)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
