Livelihood Diversification Through Tourism: Identity, Well-Being, and Potential in Rural Coastal Communities

Traditional rural livelihoods are disappearing due to natural resource decline, climate pressure and, also modernization. This study explores livelihood diversification from primary economic activities into tourism employment in rural communities. We examine the developmental role of tourism in areas where traditional activities, in this case fishing, have declined and tourism is growing. This article presents the findings of two case studies: the coastal communities of Padstow (UK) and Paternoster (South Africa). The approach is qualitative and draws on sustainable livelihoods and social well-being notions to examine how affected people “cope with change” with respect to tourism diversification, and individual and community well-being. While the socioeconomic and sociopolitical contexts in the two research sites differ, the findings show that narratives about belonging and identity feature prominently with respect to fishing livelihoods in both cases. Small-scale fishing, perceived as a way of life for fishers, is under threat in both areas, yet there is limited evidence of concerted efforts to plan and manage the potential diversification processes into tourism. Nonetheless, we observe that tourism does provide some opportunities for fishing-dependent communities and outline some avenues for stronger collaboration, particularly by focusing on culinary tourism.

Participation in Forest Management Practices, Livelihood Diversification and Welfare of Forest Dwellers in Gambari Forest Reserve, Oyo State, Nigeria

The management of forests, a source of livelihood in Nigeria, especially in the rural areas has received little attention in recent times. As a result, most of the forest dwellers who depend on these forests for survival are poor and are beginning to diversify their livelihood into off and non-forest activities as a relevant source of income. This study assessed participation in forest management practices, livelihood diversification and, the welfare of forest dwellers in Gambari Forest Reserve, Oyo State, Nigeria. Primary data, collected from 121 respondents using a multistage sampling Procedure were analyzed employing Descriptive Statistics, Logit, Tobit, and Ordinary Least Squares model. The decision to participate in forest management practices was significantly linked to gender, age, and membership in a forest association. Also, participation in forest management practices, gender, age, and credit accessibility significantly influenced livelihood diversification positively while farm size and monthly income had negative effects. The welfare of forest dwellers was found to be positively influenced by being a married indigene, having access to credit, participation in forest management practices, livelihood diversification, and monthly income while age, education, and market distance from homestead negatively affected the welfare of forest dwellers.

The Impact of Rural Livelihood Diversification on Household Poverty: Evidence from Jimma Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Southwest Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, agriculture is the principal source of food and livelihood for many rural households, making it a central component of programs that seek to reduce poverty and achieve food security. Since the sector is faced with many challenges, rural households are compelled to develop strategies through diversification to cope with the increasing vulnerability associated with agricultural production. As a result, the purpose of this research is to assess the impact of livelihood diversification on household poverty in the Jimma zone of Ethiopia’s Oromia regional state. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 385 sample household heads. The study utilized data obtained from a cross-sectional survey using an interview schedule, focus group discussion, key informant interview, and personal observations. Both descriptive and econometric data analysis techniques were applied. The result of the FGT poverty measure revealed that the incidence of poverty among rural households was 37.14%, implying that 62.86% were non-poor. The descriptive statistics revealed that age of household, dependency ratio, year of schooling, sex of household, livestock ownership, landholding, non-farm income, market distance, and extension contact were found to have a significant influence on the poverty status of a household at different probability levels. Based on the cost of basic needs approach, it was applied to measure poverty status. The results of the logit model indicate that family size, landholding, livestock ownership, year of schooling, access to credit services, and off-farm income of the households were found to have significantly determined livelihood diversification. Moreover, the results of the propensity score matching indicate that household participation in livelihood diversification has a positive and significant impact on household poverty. Accordingly, households with diversified livelihoods were found to be 9% better off than those that were not diversified in terms of poverty. Policies aimed at increasing the income generation ability of the household should be strongly considered. Therefore, to ensure the capacity of rural households to practice farming along with a wide range of income-generating activities to improve the well-being of the rural poor and have a significant impact on poverty reduction, participating in livelihood diversification should be given emphasis in development planning.

Determinants of households’ livelihood diversification strategies to adapt with natural disasters: Evidence from ecologically vulnerable haor region of Bangladesh

The haor region of Bangladesh is exposed to a variety of natural disasters such as flash floods, seasonal floods, droughts, riverbank erosions, embankment breaches due to climate change, which impacts the haor people's lives and livelihoods. The study aims to assess the various livelihood strategies adopted by the haor households, as well as the factors that influence their decision to pursue more environmentally friendly and sustainable livelihood strategies. The primary data from the 300 haor households in Kishoregonj, Netrokona and Sunamgonj districts were collected with a multi-stage stratified random sample technique taking 100 of each district. We provide inimitable insight into the analysis framework for understanding sustainable rural livelihood, as well as empirical evidence of how livelihood resources, livelihood strategies, and livelihood outcomes are strongly interrelated. The study classified households’ economic activities into five distinct categories together with crop farming to cope with natural disasters. Among the livelihood options, crop plus livestock rearing is the most productive livelihood strategy for haor households. The findings revealed that the higher returning livelihood diversification strategies are significantly influenced by the household’s head age and education, dependency ratio, land holdings, household assets value, access to credit, annual income, membership of any organization, home to road, market, and haor distances, communication during the dry season, duration of waterlogged, and agro-ecology. In order to change the local context and enable poor households to establish more profitable livelihood strategies, policies should aim to promote the significant determinants of livelihood strategies, as well as ensure livelihood assets, a strong infrastructure, and minimize natural disasters.

Livelihood Diversification in Rural India

This study aims to ascertain the level of livelihood diversification and examines the socio-economic contexts of livelihood diversification in rural India. Employing data from India Human Development Survey (IHDS-II), 2011-12, an Inverse Herfindhal-Harschman Diversity Index (IHHDI) was calculated incorporating eleven income sources (livelihood strategies). In addition, the contribution of each strategy in households’ total income has been calculated. Furthermore, binary logistic regression was applied to predict the households’ engagement in each livelihood strategy and the likelihood of high IHHDI. Results indicate that the higher livelihood diversifications were found among the households with large size, high dependency, lower social groups, low educated, landless, marginal and small farming, and economically poor. This study also highlights the significance of diversification strategies in raising households’ income. It is suggested that broadened policy support is required to promote diversification for economic development in rural India.

OUTCOMES OF LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AMONG AGRO-PASTORAL HOUSEHOLDS IN LAIKIPIA COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: The purpose aimed to investigate livelihood diversification strategies and livelihood outcomes among agro-pastoral households in Laikipia North Sub-county, Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted a cross sectional survey design where a sample of the population was selected, and from these individuals, data was collected to help answer the research questions. A total of 422 households were systematically sampled. Data were collected using two instruments; household interview guides and key informant interview guide. Data analysis was done using SPSS (version 20) computer software program. Frequency tables, pie charts and bar graphs are used to present the findings of the study. Descriptive statistics were presented using maximum, minimum, mean, percentage, and standard deviations. Significance correlation between descriptive variables was tested using Chi square test and Spearman correlation coefficient at 0.05 level of significance. Results: The findings of the study revealed that there was a response rate of 90.3% with more than half of the respondents being household heads. The average number of years the respondents had lived in the area was 43. The researcher sought livelihood strategies pursued in the past, presently and enumerated the reasons for disparity where it existed. Climate change was cited as a major cause of disparity at 40.7% followed by increased levels of education, changing land use and need to increase income and availability of market in that order. Assets (physical, financial and social) were found to have a significant influence on livelihoods outcomes. Challenges the respondents faced however was found to have no significant influence on the livelihood outcomes (χ=1.017, df =1, p=0.313). Finally, there was significant relationship between the adopted livelihood strategies and livelihood outcomes (χ2=14.730, df =1, p=0.000, r=-0.197). Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The government should strengthen Cooperative Development and Trade and Industry to the ward level. Such efforts will enhance the formation and effective running of cooperative societies as well as equip local community members with skills of running profitable businesses.

Tourism Microentrepreneurship and Land Stewardship In a Tz'utujil Mayan Coffee Community

This study examines how livelihood diversification through tourism microentrepreneurship may shape land stewardship among Mayan coffee farmers in Guatemala. Through a primarily qualitative approach assessing ecoliteracy and motivations towards environmental behaviors, data were collected among participants self-identifying as small-scale shade-grown coffee farmers involved in tourism microentrepreneurship in the community of San Juan la Laguna in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. We found that, when facilitated through cooperatives, tourism microentrepreneurship and coffee farming jointly contributed to land stewardship and provided an opportunity for indigenous farmers to foster traditional relationships with the land.