Examining how Frequent Tourists Visit to Coastal Beaches can Impact Local Economic Development - A Case Study of Limbe Black Sand Beaches, Fako Division, South West Region - Cameroon

Over the decades, tourism has seen continuous growth and deepening diversification to become one of the fastest ever growing economic sectors in the world and modern tourism is intimately correlated to development and encompasses a growing number of new destinations and these dynamics have turned tourism into a key driver for socio-economic progress. Travel and Tourism has the potential to make the world a better place by bringing economic benefits to poorer destination, through cultural exchange and Understanding through self growth. If coastal tourism in particular as well as tourism in general is to be sustainable then the impacts on the local people, the economy and the environment need to be balanced and sustainable coastal tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders while introducing the required corrective method whenever appropriate. The extraordinary and unique black sand of Limbe stretch of beaches (beauty), the cultural wealth and the great diversity of Limbe coastal areas have made them the preferred destination for many holiday makers from near and abroad thus making coastal or beach tourism an important tourism sector both economically and socially in the South West Region in particular and Cameroon in general.

Keywords: coastal areas, coastal tourism, tourism, sustainable tourism, sustainable development.