THE ROLE OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND THEIR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable tourism emphasizes minimizing negative environmental impacts while maximizing positive socio-economic benefits for local communities. This article examines the crucial role of local communities in sustainable tourism development and assesses how tourism activities contribute to their socio-economic empowerment, livelihood improvement, and cultural preservation. The challenges faced by communities in participating effectively in tourism planning and the policy recommendations to enhance their role are also discussed.