Exploring Community Engagement and Tourism Carrying Capacity in Transitioning Markets: Review, Cases, and Future Directions

Emmanuel Nii Ayi Solomon (), Stephen Mahama Braimah, Gideon Awini and Elikem Chosniel Ocloo
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Emmanuel Nii Ayi Solomon: Accra Technical University, Department of Marketing
Stephen Mahama Braimah: University of Ghana Business School
Gideon Awini: Tamale Technical University
Elikem Chosniel Ocloo: Accra Technical University, Department of Marketing

A chapter in Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Business and Entrepreneurship (ICSBE 2025), 2025, pp 201-214 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Tourism contributes significantly to the economic growth of transitioning economies but often generates sustainability challenges, including environmental degradation, cultural erosion, and limited community benefits. This paper examines how integrating community involvement and carrying capacity management can jointly advance sustainable tourism, with reference to Ghana and comparative African cases. Drawing on recent literature and illustrative case studies, the study highlights how community-driven initiatives such as the Sirigu Women’s Organisation for Pottery and Art (SWOPA) and the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary promote cultural preservation and empowerment. Conversely, sites like Kakum National Park demonstrate the risks of overtourism when visitor numbers exceed ecological thresholds. Comparative examples from Kenya, Lesotho, and Uganda reinforce these patterns across the region. The paper argues that sustainable tourism requires the synergy of carrying capacity frameworks, which regulate visitor flows, and community participation, which ensures social legitimacy and local ownership. The study contributes a practical framework for balancing economic aspirations with ecological stewardship and social equity in transitioning economies.

Keywords: Sustainable tourism; community participation; carrying capacity; Ghana; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:advbcp:978-94-6463-930-8_15

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DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6463-930-8_15

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