Opportunities and Challenges of Community-based Eco-cultural Tourism Development: A Case of Gwirize Cultural Village in Malawi

Abstract

Summary The paradigm of community-based eco-cultural tourism has garnered recognition as a support system for sustainable tourism due to its ability to extend the benefits of tourism to rural and marginalized communities. This approach serves as a means to promote social and economic development and encourages local participation in tourism development. This case focuses on the impact, opportunities and challenges of community-based eco-cultural tourism at Gwirize Cultural Village in Malawi. The cultural village has had a positive impact on the community through the creation of a direct source of income, stimulation of local businesses, improvement of access to clean water, provision of entertainment and preservation of cultural heritage. However, the cultural village also faces numerous challenges, including lack of managerial and marketing expertise, inadequate skills to provide a diverse range of tourist services and lack of coordination with other tourism service providers in the district. It is recommended that capacity-building programmes be implemented to enhance local managerial skills and tourism services, and that management and operational frameworks be developed to guide communities involved in community-based eco-cultural tourism initiatives. Information © The Authors 2023