Tourism Under Threat: The Role of Political Instability and Insecurity in Undermining Community-Based Tourism in Boga Lake

Abstract

Research Purpose: The paper examines how issues of political instability and insecurity are impeding the growth of community-based tourism (CBT) in one of the leading tourist attraction sites in the Bandarban district of Bangladesh, Boga Lake. The main aim is to determine the political and security-based challenges to impeding CBT and suggest effective measures to develop a secure and sustainable tourist environment. Data and Methodology: Qualitative research design was adopted, where in-depth interviews were conducted using a purposely selected sample of the local residents, tourists, tour guides, and government officials. Thematic analysis was applied to collected data to clarify the key political and governance issues which hinder development of tourism in the area. Findings: The results show that the existence of the KNF armed group, the lack of the formal local governance institutions, and the lack of security means all contribute to the creation of the unstable milieu. This instability puts off tourist arrivals, it has a major impact on the local economy which is largely relied on tourism and it compromises the sustainability of CBT projects in the long run. Research Implications: The research highlights the need of addressing the problem with specific measures such as increased military presence, the deployment of effective security systems, and the involvement of the government. These measures are advanced to stabilize the region, to protect the livelihoods of the people and the expansion of CBT to be sustainable. Originality: This study provides a rare exploration of the intersection of political unrest, governance loopholes, and community-based tourism in a remote and security-sensitive setting, and thus presents a context-related paradigm of restoring tourism in politically volatile regions.