Adventure tourism as a new tool of development cooperation - a case in point concerning an ethnic group of Pygmies
Abstract
The text tries (1) to define problems that globalization has inflicted on the tourist industry and (2) to highlight opportunities offered by the adventure tourism. Supported by our focus groups, the qualitative research method we applied helped us map problems afflicting the process of inducting the ethnic group of Pygmies into the business of adventure tourism.
The information was obtained from the Pygmies themselves and the representatives of both churches and the non-profit sector whose job brought them into cooperation with the ethnic group. The SWOT analysis results indicated that the adventure tourism organized on the island of Bunyonyi by the local Pygmy community can be regarded as an example of good practice.
The results demonstrate that a detailed SWOT analysis is able to minimize the threats and uncertainties. In fact, even the preliminary research conducted in September 2019 showed a rise in the income of individual Pygmies and their families.
Special emphasis in the analysis results was given to the necessity of maintaining and supporting the indigenous Pygmy culture. Designed to increase the standard of living enjoyed by this rural Pygmy community, our project suggests a method of achieving the goal - adventure tourism organized by the community itself.