ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the development of community-based tourism initiatives in Ngamiland District. It assesses the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of community-based tourism and also discusses challenges facing community-based tourism in the district. In Ngamiland District, located in the north-western part of Botswana, community-based natural resource management implementation has taken the form of community-based tourism. The implementation of community-based tourism in Ngamiland District is based on the idea that economic development should conform to the principles of sustainable development. Community-based tourism should therefore demonstrate the extent to which traditional and modern natural resource management practices can be fused to achieve a higher degree of sustainability in Ngamiland. The implementation of community-based tourism in Ngamiland District has resulted in some positive environmental impact. The predominantly foreign-owned tourism industry in Maun makes the tourism industry to have a minimal effect on rural development in Ngamiland District and Botswana as much of the tourism-generated revenue by safari companies is not retained within the district or the country.
