Bridging the gap: understanding local perspectives on tourism in world heritage site Kaziranga National Park

Wildlife and nature-based tourism at Kaziranga National Park is growing at a fast rate and this has a differential impact on the destinations. The increasing tourism activities in the region have both positive and negative consequences on the destination. Perceptions of locals on these activities are the most crucial elements of the tourism development of a tourism destination. As the tourism industry progresses further, it is important, from time to time, to assess the views of locals toward the changes. In the research article, the aim is to analyze the views of locals toward perceived economic impacts, socio-cultural impacts, and impacts of tourism development on the environment using the methods of principal component analysis for data reduction and maximum representation. The findings of this study reveal that local residents benefited economically, socioculturally, and ecologically from the growth of the tourism industry in their area. However, there are certain instances where locals believe they are not receiving full advantages from tourism activity. The study’s findings will assist tourism policymakers and decision-makers in taking necessary actions to ensure that the advantages exceed the negative repercussions and that local inhabitants continue to benefit to the greatest extent possible.