Socio-demographic determinants of local community attitudes towards wildlife tourism and sustainable development in Corbett Tiger reserve

Wildlife tourism significantly contributes to the livelihood of local residents. This study assessed how socio-demographic factors affect local community attitudes towards wildlife tourism in the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) using structured questionnaires administered to 250 respondents. Using ordinal logistic regression (OLR), this study found that education and occupation significantly influence attitudes towards wildlife tourism; in particular, illiterate participants (p = 0.01) and school dropout participants (p = 0.03) had a significant negative attitude towards wildlife tourism. Similarly, the occupation with private employees (p = 0.01) and agricultural workers (p = 0.05) had a significant negative attitude towards wildlife tourism in CTR. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions, including education and alternative livelihoods, to encourage local support. It is recommended to introduce local employment opportunities within wildlife tourism and that to be expanded in the agriculture and private sectors that will promote a more inclusive and positive community outlook. This study aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Quality Education, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Life on Land, by advocating for inclusive, education-driven, and conservation-supportive development of wildlife tourism.