Assessing tourism’s contribution to household incomes: The case of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park peripheral residents

A longitudinal study of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP) reveals that while tourism significantly boosts household incomes for those directly involved, benefits are unevenly distributed based on proximity to the park, gender, age, and ethnicity. Indigenous Batwa households, in particular, remain largely excluded from direct employment and enterprise opportunities. The research highlights the vulnerability of tourism-dependent livelihoods during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and shows limited evidence that higher incomes translate into productive asset accumulation or sustained livelihood improvement. This study provides rare longitudinal household-level data from a sub-Saharan African protected area, advancing debates on conservation tourism, rural livelihoods, and environmental justice. It underscores the need for governance approaches that address structural inequalities to achieve more equitable outcomes.

Ssebaggala, J. (2026). Assessing tourism’s contribution to household incomes: The case of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park peripheral residents. African Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/ajst.v2i1.21