Protected areas are geographical areas set aside for the long-term conservation and sustainability of natural and cultural values, and are regulated and managed in accordance with specific legislation. Given the role of local communities in these areas, it is important to understand their experiences regarding participation processes. This study aims, first, to determine how local life is perceived within the Katon-Karagai National Park (KKNP) in Kazakhstan through visitor feedback, and second, to address the limitations of this analysis by exploring the opportunities and barriers experienced by the local community living around the national park in its participation in tourism and conservation processes.
This study was designed using an interpretative paradigm and a multi-qualitative research approach. The data collection process was carried out in two stages. In the first stage, online reviews shared on Google Reviews, Yandex Maps and 2GIS were analyzed using a netnographic approach to determine the perceptions of visitors to KKNP regarding local life and the local community. In the second stage, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants in four villages on the national park boundary, using a phenomenological framework to understand the local community's experiences of living practices within the protected area.
This study reveals that, in the tourism and conservation processes surrounding KKNP, obstacles are more prevalent than opportunities. The netnographic findings obtained in the first phase of the research revealed that the core issue in the protected area is the problem of missing residents. The phenomenological findings from the second phase, confirm that the economic benefits derived from tourism are largely concentrated among investors and public institutions, a situation that weakens the participation of local communities. Disruptions in access to information during decision-making processes, the neglect of local knowledge, and livelihood pressures hinder participation. However, the digital literacy of the younger generation offers significant potential for the future of participation. Consequently, these results indicate that participation is not merely an isolated issue but a holistic process with institutional, practical and socio-cultural dimensions.
This study is part of a research project that takes a holistic approach to examining local communities' participation in tourism development within protected areas in Kazakhstan, considering both the barriers and opportunities involved. Drawing on the experiences of local communities, it presents empirical evidence specifically regarding KKNP and contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics of participation in protected areas.
