This study sought to determine the methods used to ensure tourism enterprises are implemented in alleviating poverty and investigated the motivating factors that drove the local community to own tourism enterprises in kinigi sector, Rwanda. A descriptive research design involving use of qualitative and quantitative approaches was adopted to obtain data using primary and secondary sources from a target population of 132 local community members used Slovin’s formula giving a sample of 60 to get clear meaning of the results. The findings highlighted that community enterprise ownership enabled the local community to access natural and financial resources, political influence, indigenous ownership and management opportunities. Training improved tourism awareness, skills and knowledge as a community empowerment method which was highly valued by the community and led to growth of tourism enterprise ownership. It was concluded that the tourism enterprises played a crucial role in alleviating poverty, methods such as trainings, micro-credit and income distribution support played a crucial role in enterprise development. Keywords: Tourism enterprises, Poverty alleviation, Protected area, Community based tourism, Empowerment methods.

Research paper