Abstract: This study examined the influence of cultural tourism on community livelihoods in Kinigi Sector, Rwanda, with a focus on Gorilla Guardian Village. Cultural tourism has emerged as an important mechanism for preserving cultural heritage, promoting traditional practices, and creating socio-economic opportunities for local communities. The study sought to assess the contribution of cultural tourism to community livelihoods, evaluate community perceptions of cultural tourism initiatives, and identify challenges affecting its effectiveness in promoting local development. A quantitative approach employing descriptive and correlational research designs was adopted. From a target population of 355 individuals, a sample of 249 respondents was selected using Slovin’s formula. The respondents comprised households engaged in cultural heritage-related businesses, visitors to Gorilla Guardian Village, and workers, including former poachers involved in tourism activities. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The findings indicate that cultural tourism contributes significantly to community livelihoods through employment creation, income generation, and the preservation of cultural heritage. A strong positive relationship was found between cultural tourism activities and community livelihood improvement (r = 0.782), suggesting that greater participation in cultural tourism is associated with enhanced socio-economic well-being. Most respondents expressed positive perceptions of cultural tourism initiatives, including cultural training programs, tourism cooperatives, and community cultural events, recognizing their role in fostering community participation and economic empowerment. However, several challenges were identified, including unequal distribution of tourism benefits, limited community involvement in decision-making processes, commercialization of cultural practices, inadequate infrastructure, weak marketing strategies, and language barriers. These constraints reduce the potential benefits that local communities derive from tourism activities. The study concludes that cultural tourism has substantial potential to promote sustainable community development in Kinigi Sector when supported by inclusive policies, effective planning, and active community participation. It recommends strengthening tourism infrastructure, enhancing marketing strategies, expanding community capacity-building programs, and promoting equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms to maximize the positive impact of cultural tourism on local livelihoods.
Keywords: Cultural Tourism, Community Livelihood, Gorilla Guardian Village, Kinigi Sector.
Title: Cultural Tourism Perception on Community Livelihood of Kinigi Sector: A Case of Gorilla Guardian Village
Author: Rutagengwa Jean Marie Vianney, Dr. Eugenia Nkechi Irechukwu
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
Vol. 14, Issue 2, April 2026 - June 2026
Page No: 75-82
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 20-June-2026
