A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM IN KYAIKTHALE VILLAGE

Community-Based Tourism (CBT) is gaining prestige in developing countries as an alternative to mass tourism. The main theme of CBT is to ensure environmental, social and cultural sustainability while empowering the local community. This study examines the positive and negative effects of community-based tourism on local people at Kyaikthale CBT Village, Twante Township. Qualitative research method was used to conduct the interviews with key informants. Included in the sample were tourism coordinators, community authoritative persons, development workers as well as people who had little or no involvement with tourism in Kyaikthale Village. The study’s findings illustrate how a local community in the developing world is affected by tourism in a relatively short period of time. Results identified in this study provide a good case for decision making and implications that communities in the developing world will encounter in trying to acquire effective management of tourism development in their communities