Mk Speth
Stewards & Saviors: Examining the construction of narratives & identity for eco-tourism in Akagera National Park
Fellowship Year:
2019
Degree:
MESc
Research Country:
Rwanda
Research Continent:
Africa
Fields of Interest:
eco-tourism, political ecology, identity politics,
Abstract:
Drawing on tourism studies and political ecology, my thesis research examines the intersection of eco-tourism and identity politics in post-genocide Rwanda. Focusing specifically on Akagera National Park (ANP), I seek to understand the dynamics of constructing and disseminating narratives for eco-tourism, particularly those concerning the local communities and the country’s violence history. In other words, my research asks the question: what are tourists told and why? Moreover, I aim to explore the ways in which the diffusion of these narratives influences the identity of certain actors, including the local community, the ANP's governing bodies, and the physical land.