| dc.description.abstract | Many developing countries use tourism as a tool for (local) socio-economic development and environmental conservation. However, these countries often face environmental degradation where nature is a key component for attracting tourism. The Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site (KLCRS), a protected wetland area in the south of the Ghanaian Volta Region, is one of the tourism potential areas facing environmental, socio-economic and institutional challenges.
This thesis explores the sustainable tourism potential in the Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site. Key focus points are how the current enabling environment is influencing the tourism potential and whether and how tourism can contribute to nature conservation and local livelihood enhancement. In the research, a qualitative method consisting of observations, in-depth interviews and focus groups discussions is used to get an understanding of the complex dynamics in the study area and to assess the tourism potential.
The tourism potential is dependent of several key elements, for example the environmental constraints, governance context, quality of attractions and activities, infrastructure, presence of facilities and domestic and foreign market.
The KLCRS experiences many internally and externally natural resources related challenges like deforestation, commercial salt mining, salinization and fish stock depletion. Environmental degradation is often related to the lack of environmental awareness and education. Local communities often do not see the potential tourism can be for them. In order to get the support from the local communities for the conservation of the natural resources - which are often important for tourism - direct benefits from tourism to the local communities need to be demonstrated.
Governance issues in terms of lack of political will, uncoordinated management, no cooperation between institutions and insufficient financial support contributes to the challenges the area is facing for tourism development. These are some of the issues to be addressed to ensure sustainable management and conservation of the protected area.
When sustainably developed, tourism can bring benefits for both the local communities and nature conservation. Via generating employment, revenues, cultural enhancement and the multiplier effect, socio-economic development will get a boost. Nature conservation will get improved via increasing local support and the generation of revenues and taxes for conservation efforts.
However, tourism will have different impacts on stakeholders, whether they are individuals or groups. This is often related to the control, use and access to natural resources. Impacts can be positive when resource dependent groups are well-involved and participating in tourism development. | |
