Contribution of tourism revenue sharing (TRS) program on transforming the living conditions of communities around Nyungwe National Park

Abstract

The tourism revenue sharing with local communities is one of the community conservation tools through which community-park relations can be improved. The concept of benefit sharing became more significant when the Convention for Biodiversity (CBD) was developed and approved in 1992. This international convention included three objectives – one of these three was the “fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources”. The present study adopts a survey research methodology in order to get information from different stakeholders of tourism industry in Rwanda. Also, the study was covered all the available secondary data on tourism area of Nyungwe National Park, in order to understand the contribution of tourism benefits in transforming the living conditions of communities near and around Nyungwe Forest National Park. Benefit sharing programmes allow access to park resources, which may consist of natural resources that can be sustainably harvested, such as water and other natural products, as well as a share of parks’ financial revenue earned through tourism or other activities. Therefore, revenue is just one of the benefits that can be shared with local communities. It is an investment in conservation and it must demonstrate a favorable conservation impact.  From 2005 to 2016, 121 community projects have been financed around Nyungwe National Park by government of Rwanda for a total amount of us dollars 924.864. These projects have impacted the socio-economic conditions of beneficiaries. Therefore, 90% of respodents have observed that the Tourism Revenue Share  have a postive impact on decreasing the illegal activities in NNP, 23% of respondents have observed that their income increased thought TRS projects and has facilitated food availability and promoted their livelihood. According to respondents also, after project implementation, the health access was increased up to 92% from 58%.