I am an academic who recently completed his doctoral (PhD) studies in nature and culture-based tourism and entrepreneurship. I have conducted some intensive research which aims to analyse tourism’s economic, social and environmental contribution to African natural and cultural sites, including certain UNESCO World Heritage sites.
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I am an academic who recently completed his doctoral (PhD) studies in nature and culture-based tourism and entrepreneurship.
I have conducted some intensive qualitative researches which aim to analyse tourism’s economic, social and environmental contribution to African natural and cultural sites, including certain UNESCO World Heritage sites found
in Gabon and South Africa.
This study is an updated assessment of the state of the Gabonese national parks tourism environment with regard to its impact on the entrepreneurship of SMEs. National parks tourism is one of the industries in which the government of Gabon has invested to develop entrepreneurship and to foster its economy. However, two decades after the investment in the national park tourism industry, it remains that it has not had a significant impact in terms of its viability towards entrepreneurship and its contribution to the country’s GDP.
This paper is an exploratory qualitative study that looked at the contribution that nature-based tourism can bring in urban centres. This form of tourism is often referred to as green tourism, ecotourism, and more recently sustainable tourism.
Entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) is an emerging concept in the literature, owing to its ability to create a favourable environment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs have a positive impact on a country’s economy. They operate in numerous industries, among them, national parks tourism, which offers business opportunities for related ventures.
Gabon offers great potential for national parks tourism but fails to position itself as a tourism destination when compared to other African countries. It remains mostly known as an oil-producing country. The present study investigates developmental challenges the Gabonese national park tourism sector faces. Qualitative methods were adopted as semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and observation was used to obtain primary data collected in one of the country's most visited parks (Lope) and one of the least visited parks (Akanda).
Akanda National Park (ANP) is one of thirteen national parks in Gabon. ANP was established in 2002 in support of the Gabonese government strategy to diversify the country’s hydrocarbon dependent economy by developing a tourism industry. However, ANP remains one of the less popular of Gabon’s tourism attractions despite its natural assets and geographical location in close proximity to Gabon’s capital, Libreville.
This master dissertation describes the potential that Akanda National Park has for tourism development in Gabon. This park is considered by the researcher as the port of entry to ecotourism in Gabon, but regrets that up to date it is still one of the least popular national parks of the country despite its potential in terms of its fauna and flora.
"Renaldy’s work on ecotourism and national park sustainability is groundbreaking. His PhD research didn’t just fill gaps in the literature—it provided actionable frameworks for policymakers. As his supervisor, his rigor and creativity elevated the project. He’s the kind of scholar who turns theory into real-world change."
"Renaldy hikes every trail he studies—not just for research, but because he loves seeing people connect with nature. Over campfires, he’ll geek out about bird migrations one minute and brainstorm inclusive tourism models the next. His PhD isn’t just a degree; it’s a reflection of how he lives. The world needs more scholars who care this deeply."
His ability to translate research into on-the-ground solutions is unmatched. He listens to locals, respects data, and finds the sweet spot between preservation and accessibility. A true ally for protected areas."
© 2026 Viene. All rights reserved.