The Significance of Local Community Involvement in Sustainable Tourism

The study examined the significance of local community involvement in sustainable tourism, using Fajuyi Memorial Park in Ado Ekiti as a case study. Three (3) objectives were raised and literature of other researchers were reviewed. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design and the instrument for data collection was a questionnaire; it was built around the research question by the researcher and validated by the researcher’s supervisor. The questionnaire was structured according to the research questions and distributed to sample population of 100 respondents. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics by means of frequency count, percentage, Mean and standard Deviation. The findings of the study revealed that to a large extent, local communities are highly involved in the planning and management of sustainable tourism initiatives. Hence, residents are regularly consulted during the planning stages of tourism development projects and training and capacity-building programs are provided to local community members to enhance their involvement in tourism management. There are benefits associated with local community involvement in sustainable tourism such as preservation of local culture and traditions in tourism initiatives, leads to improved economic benefits for residents, results in better environmental protection and sustainability practices and increases tourist satisfaction and enhances their overall experience. It was recommended that to ensure effective participation in sustainable tourism, it is essential to increase education and awareness within the local community about the benefits of tourism and sustainability practices. The involvement of local authorities, businesses, and residents should be formalized through the creation of a multi-stakeholder governance structure that encourages regular consultation and collaboration.