Research Center

RURAL TOURISM RESEARCH CENTER (RTRC)


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RTRC Overview

The Rural Tourism Research Center (RTRC) serves as the research division of Rural Plus Tourism, dedicated to advancing sustainable rural tourism in Malawi. RTRC collaborates with researchers, academic institutions, development partners, and research centers both locally and internationally, including universities. RTRC’s mission is to support, facilitate, conduct and disseminate research that fosters knowledge creation, addresses critical issues, and develops innovative solutions for sustainable rural tourism in Malawi. The center also aims to highlight Malawi’s unique case studies, sharing valuable insights and best practices with the global community. RTRC is committed to fostering a deeper understanding of rural tourism in Malawi and sharing its unique insights with the global community.

    Key Activities
  • Research Facilitation and Support: Providing resources and expertise to facilitate impactful research projects on rural tourism.
  • Knowledge Development: Conducting and supporting studies that address critical challenges and uncover innovative solutions for sustainable rural tourism.
  • Capacity Building: Organizing workshops, training sessions, and knowledge-sharing forums for researchers, tourism practitioners, and communities.
  • Case Study Documentation: Highlighting and publishing Malawi’s rural tourism success stories to inspire global audiences.
  • Networking and Partnerships: Building strong collaborations with national and international research institutions to drive tourism innovation.

Research Directory

The directory features a curated collection of published research on sustainable tourism, rural tourism, and community-based tourism. It serves as a platform for disseminating research findings and actionable recommendations on these key themes.

  • Bello, F. G., & Lambulira, M. (2024). Pursuing Sustainable Tourism Development Through Wildlife Tourism: Local Residents' Perceptions. In Wildlife Tourism Dynamics in Southern Africa: Contemporary Issues, Challenges and Prospects for Sustainable Development (pp. 115-130). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. Follow Link
  • Bello, F. G., & Lambulira, M. (2023). Opportunities and Challenges of Community-based Eco-Cultural Tourism Development: A Case of Gwirize Cultural Village in Malawi. Tourism Cases, (2023), tourism202300016. Follow Link
  • Chauma, E. C., & Ngwira, C. (2022). Managing a World Heritage Site in Malawi: do residents' sentiments matter?. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 17(2), 142-157. Follow Link
  • Kalina, M., Ngcoya, M., Nkhoma, B., & Tilley, E. (2021). Conceptualising reuse in African households: perspectives from Chembe, Malawi. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1-23. Follow Link
  • Mweiwa, V. R., Chilembwe, J. M., & Mankhomwa, E. (2020). Influence of government policies on sustainable tourism development in Malawi. In Sustainable destination branding and marketing: strategies for tourism development (pp. 143-153). Wallingford UK: CABI. Follow Link
  • Khonje, L. Z., Simatele, M. D., & Musavengane, R. (2020). Environmental sustainability innovations in the accommodation sub-sector: Views from Lilongwe, Malawi. Development Southern Africa, 37(2), 312-327. Follow Link
  • Kamanga, G., & Njoloma, E. (2019). Socioeconomic impacts of tourism on the local community: Nkhata Bay district, Malawi. In The Routledge Handbook of Tourism Impacts (pp. 265-277). Routledge. Follow Link
  • Bello, F. G., & Kamanga, G. (2020). Drivers and barriers of corporate social responsibility in the tourism industry: The case of Malawi. Development Southern Africa, 37(2), 181-196. Follow Link
  • Milanzi, G. (2019). The extraordinary league of rural women entrepreneurs of Malawi: The socio-economic impacts of tourism in Malawi. In The Routledge Handbook of Tourism Impacts (pp. 184-201). Routledge. Follow Link
  • Chilembwe, J. M. (2019). Nature tourism, wildlife resources and community-based conservation: The case study of Malawi. In Natural Resources, Tourism and Community Livelihoods in Southern Africa (pp. 26-37). Routledge. Follow Link
  • Malijani, O. (2019). Towards community inclusion: Chongoni world heritage site and sustainable cultural tourism in Malawi. South African Archaeological Bulletin, 74(209), 35-41. Follow Link
  • Bello, F. G., Lovelock, B., & Carr, N. (2018). Enhancing community participation in tourism planning associated with protected areas in developing countries: Lessons from Malawi. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 18(3), 309-320. Follow Link
  • Bello, F. G., Lovelock, B., & Carr, N. (2017). Constraints of community participation in protected area-based tourism planning: The case of Malawi. Journal of Ecotourism, 16(2), 131-151. Follow Link
  • Bello, F. G., Carr, N., Lovelock, B., & Xu, F. (2017). Local residents' perceptions of socio-cultural impacts of tourism in Mangochi, Malawi. Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research (AHTR), 5(1), 1-22. Follow Link
  • Chilembwe, J. M., & Mweiwa, V. R. (2019). Responsible travel and tourism adventure: Evidence from Malawi as a tourist destination. In Sustainable Tourism Development (pp. 31-54). Apple Academic Press. Follow Link
  • Mtapuri, O., & Giampiccoli, A. (2016). Towards a comprehensive model of community-based tourism development. South African Geographical Journal= Suid-Afrikaanse Geografiese Tydskrif, 98(1), 154-168. Follow Link
  • Snyman, S. (2013). Household spending patterns and flow of ecotourism income into communities around Liwonde National Park, Malawi. Development Southern Africa, 30(4-05), 640-658. Follow Link
  • Gartner, C., & Cukier, J. (2012). Is tourism employment a sufficient mechanism for poverty reduction? A case study from Nkhata Bay, Malawi. Current Issues in Tourism, 15(6), 545-562. Follow Link
  • Novelli, M., & Scarth, A. (2007). Tourism in protected areas: Integrating conservation and community development in Liwonde National Park (Malawi). Tourism and Hospitality Planning & Development, 4(1), 47-73. Follow Link
  • Blaikie, P. (2006). Is small really beautiful? Community-based natural resource management in Malawi and Botswana. World development, 34(11), 1942-1957. Follow Link