RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF AND PARTICIPATION IN RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: ACUMENS FROM KARIMENGA COMMUNITY IN GHANA

Abstract

Rural tourism development in contemporary times is viewed with a participatory approach lens thus allowing local residents to benefit. This study assessed tourism development in Karimenga, a community in the West Mamprusi District with a facility dubbed the “Greenhouse Tourism Project”. It also assessed the perception of residents on their participation in tourism and equally explored the impact of tour ism development in the community. Employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches, data were sourced from a sample of 112 residents through questionnaire administration and In-depth Interview (IDI) schedules. The study revealed that the majority of the residents (67%) were involved in tourism decision making. It is recommended that benefits from tourism be made to ‘spiral’ the community to reach most households through loans granted by the assembly for handicraft work to enhance souvenir trade.