Feasibility Study of Proposed Tourism Dev in Shewula, NE ...

Chapter 9 - The Way Forward
9.4. GENERAL GUIDING STATEMENTS
• Improve community participation: Community members should be given
opportunities to become more involved in future initiatives. Community
participation should be increased towards levels of full community ownership. This
increase in community participation should contribute towards achieving
sustainability of the tourism development project. For instance, interested
individuals should be given access to resources (eg. training and information) that
will assist them in becoming more involved in the development process.
• Improve communication: For the purposes of effective participatory planning,
effective communication between all role-players and stake-holders is necessary.
Improved communication will also contribute towards improved decision-making,
and facilitate the dissemination of information between all l&APs. For instance, the
relationship between the SGRT and the Shewula community must be clarified, in
order that channels exist for accountability and good communication.
• Provide opportunities for improved community awareness: To improve
community understanding requires time and access to resources (eg. funding,
training and expertise). The community should be given the opportunity to
understand the concepts of tourism and conservation, which are foreign to them,
at their own pace. This process, aimed at both individuals and the broader
community, can be achieved by using tools that will provide community members
with the opportunity to engage with the current development process. Such tools,
for instance, could include workshops where community members can address
their questions and issues.
• Undertake future planning towards sustainability: Future planning in the
Shewula community should, be aimed at maximising community participation.
Improved communication and awareness among community members should
assist in this process. To aim for sustainability, the planning should reflect
integration, participation and consideration of alternatives. This report can be used
as a baseline information document for future developments.
• Limit outside intervention: To contribute towards the sustainability of the
project, outside intervention should be limited. Where outside intervention is
necessary, it is recommended that a principle of continuity be followed. This
entails that an outside party is kept in the process for an extended period, in order
that they may remain familiar with the situation. This will avoid 'snap-shot' input
from outside consultants, which is usually dislocated from the local development
process, is not participatory and avoids building capacity on a local level.
• Future project scheduling: The scheduling of development projects in Shewula
should take into account the local context and understanding of 'time'. It is
important that community members and role-players familiar with the Shewula
context are involved in the formulation of project scheduling, as they will best be
able to attach time expectations to project tasks.
• Future funding for planning and development: Funding for future development
planning should be directed at maximising capacity of local community members,
in order that they may take on more ownership of the project.