Abstract
Many less developed countries now regard tourism as an important and integral part of their economic development strategies, as tourism affects the economy and the livelihood of the local communities. The growth of tourism is argued as offering a means of escaping the confines of underdevelopment, with the evolution of new forms of tourism. Tourism has the power to effect change and development among the local communities in different ways. Using the Zimbabwean city of Masvingo as a case study, the aim of the study was to ascertain the influence of Zimbabwean policy initiatives on local community participation in tourism development. An exploratory study design, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative research approaches, was adopted. The quantitative sample consisted of 198 local community members, who lived in the Masvingo district, where the Great Zimbabwe National Monument is located. The qualitative sample consisted of purposively selected local officials from the local government authority, as well as community members and (in)formal/small-scale business people who expressed their views on the influence of government policies on local community participation in tourism development in Masvingo, and in Zimbabwe in general. The major outcome of the study is that there is a need for further community member involvement in terms of policy formulation and dialogue as the initial stage in their involvement in community development. In order to stimulate community participation in tourism development in Masvingo and other Zimbabwean communities, there is a need to improve community policy awareness of tourism development, so that the community members come to participate actively in the developmental and economic activities that are pursued in the sector.
M.A. (Tourism and Hospitality)