IMPACT ANALYSIS OF TOURISM ACTIVITIES ON LOCAL COMMUNITY SURROUNDING VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK IN MUSANZE DISTRICT, KINIGI SECTOR, NORTHERN PROVINCE OF RWANDA

Abstract

Tourism is one of the biggest and quickest developing businesses within the world. It is a progressively imperative source of wage, business and riches in much nation counting Rwanda. Universal tourism presently accounts for a bigger share of outside trade receipts and trades profit than any other industry within the world. But, whereas tourism gives impressive financial benefits for our nation, its fast extension has too had negative natural impacts. Characteristic asset exhaustion and natural debasement related with tourism are regularly genuine issues for population.

This study aims at analyzing the environmental impacts resulting from tourist activities at volcanoes National Park, an important tourist attraction in Rwanda.

For data collection and analysis, appropriate methodology was used such as sampling techniques, interviews and questionnaires all backed with reliable documentation.

This study coved a period of 5 years (2007-2011) in Four Sectors of Musanze District Northern Province.

After the collection and analyzing of data, using that methodology, we found that tourism has positive and negative impacts on environment at VNP, but our focus was on negative impacts. Within negative impacts of tourism activities, we have different kind of pollution, destruction of vegetation, sickness of gorilla or people, human wildlife conflict, and destruction of Rwandan culture

This study suggested some solutions for in order to maximize positive impacts in the destination. The staff of VNP in charge of conservation of environment said that there are many rules and regulations to mitigate negative impacts. The people near VNP also said that to minimize the negative impacts of tourism activities they work together with their local leaders in conservation of environment.

This study has been of great importance for society, other researchers and policy makers in tourism area.