Integrated rural tourism as a tool for community tourism development: Exploring culture and heritage projects in the North-East District of Botswana

Rural areas are experiencing major socio-economic changes with a need to transform and diversify rural livelihoods. In this context, tourism industry is increasingly used as a tool for local development with an aim to facilitate participation and integration of communities in tourism planning and operations. This study explores the development of community-based cultural and heritage tourism, utilizing the integrated rural tourism (IRT) as a guiding framework. The paper relies on the results of a qualitative study carried out in and around the village of Kalakamati in the North-East District of Botswana. In-depth interviews were carried out with selected respondents associated with Mantenge, Domboshaba and Gandanyemba heritage sites. Based on the interview results, the paper argues that IRT can be a useful tool in assessing development of rural tourism in the country but needs to be carefully contextualized in developing countries situations.