Abstract

In recent years the concept of rural or ecotourism has been gathering impetus in the countryside of developing countries. Areas which were previously based on agriculture are now urgently seeking new forms of income generation. This has resulted in the emergence of rural tourism which offers a solution to diverse needs. The paper uses a combination of primary and secondary data to appraise the rural tourism potential of Oku villages and identifies the various ecotourism types feasible for integration in the livelihood systems of the local people and in protected area management. It further identifies the scope and framework for the development of rural tourism as an economically non-consumptive form of “land use” management based on an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis). Finally, the paper concludes that an application of the concept of rural tourism can enable rural people to sell local produce and souvenirs without having to change their lifestyles or move to town. The planning of protected areas for rural tourism must use participatory approaches by liaising with the existing forest management institutions, government agencies, municipal and local authorities and entrepreneurs. This should be complemented by the setting up of a legal and scientific framework necessary to balance the protection and use of the forest reserve by local people in order to achieve sustainable management and poverty alleviation. Such plans increase the potential use of protected areas and also contribute to the local economy.

Key words: Rural tourism, protected area, income generation, sustainable management, evaluation, alternative strategy