The use of Mayan rainforests for ecotourism development: an empowerment approach for local communities

Primate tourism is a recent, but important, ecotourism niche market and in Uganda is one of the driving forces behind rainforest protection and conservation. However, there has been little discussion of the successes, challenges and the future opportunities for primate tourism, specifically in Uganda, a country with the world’s highest concentration of primate species. This chapter attempts to address these shortcomings by identifying and analysing the current successes and challenges of primate tourism in Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda, through the lens of: conservation of forest resources; visitor satisfaction; and poverty reduction. The chapter also proposes a number of actions that could be introduced to enhance the long-term sustainability of primate tourism in Uganda.