Empowering Local Residents in Sustainable Tourism Development: A Case Study of Jaghbub Oasis

Abstract

This study aims to examine the role of local residents in developing and guiding sustainable tourism in the Jaghbub Oasis, by identifying their awareness of the importance of tourism, their contribution to supporting this sector, and the obstacles that limit their effective participation, in addition to exploring future opportunities to achieve balanced tourism development. The study relied on a quantitative analytical approach through a questionnaire distributed to a sample of (354) individuals from the local community, according to Morgan's table. The questionnaire addressed several topics, including residents' knowledge of the importance of tourism, employment opportunities, tourism training and skills, the impact of migration on tourism activity, government support, and their stance on developing medical, natural, and cultural tourism patterns. The results showed that a large percentage of the population recognizes the importance of sustainable tourism as an economic and social resource, but their actual participation remains limited due to factors such as weak infrastructure (28.2%), lack of training programs (25.4%), weak government support (15.8%), and continued out-migration (11.3%). The results also indicated that migration negatively impacts the availability of labor and acquired experience, while medical and natural tourism enjoy wide acceptance among residents, provided that basic services are improved and sustainable investments are provided to enhance this vital sector in the oasis.