Articles, Conference and Workshop Papers Collection

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://10.10.97.169:4000/handle/123456789/979

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Marine farming and tourism
(Acquaculture New Zealand, 2010) Jodice, Laura W; Hull, John; Sirima, Agnes
The Marine Farming Association of New Zealand developed and published a tourist trail brochure in 2005 with the purpose of upholding the positive image of aquaculture among residents and tourists on the Top of the South Island. Another objective was to strengthen the collaboration between tourism and fisheries stakeholders in promoting the region as a seafood destination. In 2009, the NZTRI research team interviewed a total of 24 local businesses in the region. This article presents the results from the interviews and a short written survey. The research team independently analyzed and transcribed audio-recordings to identify major emergent themes that explore the relationships between tourism and marine farming linked to the Top of the South Aquaculture and Seafood Trail. Results show that businesses recognized that promoting locally caught seafood increased the competitiveness of New Zealand seafood and tourism products. They also recognized that cooperation was important to building shared knowledge and community level acceptance of marine farms and tourism in the coastal zone.
The economic of water in paddy and non-paddy crop production around the Kilombero valley ramsar site, Tanzania: Productivity, costs, returns and implications to poverty reduction
(Journal of Agriculture Science, 2011) Musamba, Emmanuel; Ngaga, Yonika M; Giliba, Richard A; Boon, E. K; Sirima, Agnes; Chirenje, L I
Water scarcity is globally getting worse in the light of increase in demand for water use. Human and ecosystem health and economic development are affected by problems of water scarcity and water pollution. This paper assessed the net benefit of water resource in crop production around the Kilombero Valley Ramsar Site in Tanzania. Specifically, the study determines and estimates costs and benefits in crop production and quantify its monetary value using both market and non-market techniques. Household questionnaires, checklist for key informants, participant observation and participatory rural appraisal techniques were employed for data collection. Questionnaire survey was administered to 120 households to establish the major agricultural activities, crops, costs of production and income accrued from these activities. Data relating to household characteristics and water related economic activities were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences whereby the cost for production, inputs and returns were analysed and compared using Microsoft Excel. The residual imputation approach was used to estimate the value of water in crop production. Findings revealed that, 88.3 percent of the respondents own land and 11.7 percent of them rent the land for crop production. The net values of water for irrigated paddy and non-paddy crops were estimated to Tsh. 273.6 (US$ 0.23) and Tsh. 87.7 (US$ 0.073) per m3 of consumed water respectively. The average productivity of water for paddy and non-paddy crop production is estimated at 0.85 kgm-3 and 0.69 kgm-3 of consumed water respectively. Furthermore, the returns from agriculture are less compared to returns from other water uses. Nevertheless, since majority of households are depending on agriculture this study recommends that emphasis should be put on effective and efficient use of water to improve its productivity.
Sharing Tourism Benefits with the local community: A business perspective from the grassroots in Tanzania
(Journal of Environmental Studies and Management, 2012) Muganda, Michael; Sirima, Agnes; Mkumbo, Peter; Moshy, Batilda
Local communities’ participation in tourism benefit-sharing is central to tourism development. While there is a well-established literature on benefit-sharing from the perspective of wildlife protected areas and adjacent local communities, there is little emphasis on how other tourism businesses do this. Using a case study of Barabarani village, Tanzania, this paper examines how other tourism businesses share benefits with the neighbouring communities. It explores this using: in-depth semi-structured interviews with tourism businesses, NGOs, and key decisionmakers within the community; a two-month period of field observations coupled with the researcher’s experience with the wider community; informal discussions with some members of the local community; and document analysis. The findings show that tourism businesses in Barabarani village have schemes that favourably benefit local people, but the extent to which a particular business has developed its schemes differed from one business to another depending on the nature of business, ownership, and objectives. In some businesses such schemes were automatically created as a ‘by-product’ of particular decisions they make. Overall, public businesses had more systematic benefit sharing schemes than private businesses. Thus, there was no guarantee local communities would receive benefits from private businesses, and if any, they were executed on an ad hoc basis.
A review of "Tourism and sustainability: development, globalization and new tourism in the Third World (3rd ed)
(Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 2012) Sirima, Agnes
Evaluation of traceability systems in fish supply chains: A case study of Tanzania
(Pakistan Society of Food Scientists and Technologists, 2012) MGONJA, J, T; KUSSAGA, J, B.
The European General Food Law, EC 178/2002 requires each stage in the supply chain to have access in its upstream and downstream trading partners. The regulation seeks to ensure that at each stage of food production, processing and movement through the supply chain steps are taken to maintain safety of the products intended for human consumption, at its highest quality. While the literature recognises the importance of food processing companies to have efficient traceability systems, there has been shortage of actual involvement of researchers in assessing the actual execution and performance of traceability systems in food processing companies, especially in developing countries. Using a qualitative approach, this study evaluates the performance of traceability systems in Tanzanian context using a case study of four fish processing companies. It explores how fish processing companies under given contextual situations (e.g. product complexity, production process complexity, supply chain complexity and organisation complexity) design and execute their traceability systems. The findings showed that despite high degree of complexity of contextual situations, all companies used paper based traceability system with minimum computer applications. Paper based traceability system is associated with several limitations, and may lead to poor performance given higher level of complexities of contextual situations.
Diagnostic model for assessing traceability system performance in fish processing plants
(Elsevier Ltd, 2013) MGONJA, J, T.; LUNING, P; Van der Vorst, Jack G, A, J.
This paper introduces a diagnostic tool that can be used by fish processing companies to evaluate their own traceability systems in a systematic manner. The paper begins with discussions on the rationale of traceability systems in food manufacturing companies, followed by a detailed analysis of the most important indicators in the designing and executing traceability systems. The diagnostic tool is presented in four grids through which fish companies can evaluate their own developed traceability system. The paper argues that if a company operates at a higher level of contextual factors, then design and execution of traceability system needs to be at a higher level as well so as to achieve a higher level of traceability system performance. The paper concludes that companies that are able to systematically assess their own developed traceability systems are able to determine food safety problems well in advance, and thereby take appropriate corrective actions.
The Role of Local Communities in Tourism Development
(Journal of Human Ecology, 2013) Muganda, Michael; Sirima, Agnes; Marwa, Ezra
One of the core elements of tourism development is to encourage local communities’ participation as it is central to the sustainability of tourism industry. While the literature suggests a number of roles local communities could take in tourism development, little emphasis has so far been given as to how local communities themselves feel about this. As a result, there has been little evidence, especially from the grassroots, on what communities really think of their role(s) in tourism development. Using a case study of Barabarani village in Tanzania, this paper contributes to the understanding of community participation in tourism development by examining local communities’ views on their role in tourism development. The paper triangulates both quantitative and qualitative data to bring together perspectives from the grassroots based on household questionnaire survey with some members of the local community and a two-month period of field observations in the study area, coupled with the researcher’s experience with the wider community. The findings revealed that local communities want to be involved when tourism policies are being made to enable policymakers to prepare a policy that meets stakeholders’ needs and addresses their concerns. They also want to be part of tourism development decisions to ensure their needs are incorporated. Furthermore, local communities want to have a voice in development issues (not necessarily tourism development) to enable them to protect community interests, and increase transparency and accountability, and wipe out embezzlements and abuse of offices, which are rampant acts amongst decision-makers. Similar to previous studies, they rejected the statement ‘local people should not participate by any means’ in tourism development. It is clear from the findings that people are against the prevailing top-down approach in decision making when it comes to tourism development in their areas. It also depicts the nature of the central government which controls all the forms of decision making when it comes to development and policy formulation. The study emphasizes on small scale methods in analysing and assessing the role of local communities views of participation from the communities themselves rather than what has been normally imposed on them.
Desires of Community Participation in Tourism Development Decision Making Process: A Case Study of Barabarani, Mto Wa Mbu, Tanzania
(World Scholars, 2013) MUGANDA, M; MGONJA, J, T.; BACKMAN, K, F
Over the last decade, tourism in Tanzania has recorded significant growth, with the industry’s contribution to the country’s steadily growing GDP. However, poverty and unemployment rate in the country is still very high, which raises questions regarding local community participation in decision making. Participation in the decision-making process is a crucial determinant in ensuring that the benefits accrued by local communities from tourism are guaranteed, and that their lifestyles and values are respected. This paper examines the nature of community participation expected by local people in tourism development decision-making process in Tanzania using a case study of Barabarani village, Mto wa Mbu, Arusha. The paper incorporates a questionnaire in a mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) approach in data collection. The findings showed that local people, regardless of the location they came from, their gender, occupation, and education, wish to have a voice and actively take part in the decision-making process, to ensure that their needs, priorities and interests are well considered when decisions about tourism development are made in their areas. The paper contributes to the wider scientific discussion on community participation in tourism industry, and uncovers vital infor-mation for tourism managers, planners, policy makers and academicians.
Communities displacement from national park ad tourism development in the Usangu Plains, Tanzania
(Current issues in tourism, 2013-08) Sirima, Agnes; Backman, Kenneth F
Land-use-change conflicts have shaped the conservation and tourism activities and human livelihood debate in the Usangu Plains over the last 10 years. This has led Ruaha National Park to become the largest national park in Tanzania and the second largest in Africa. The need to understand the rationale behind the expansion of Ruaha National Park and the local communities' views on tourism activities has become increasingly important. The purpose of this study was to examine land-use change in the Usangu Plains and its implication to local communities. Community members in five villages, Ikoga Mpya, Igomelo, Nyeregete, Mahango and Luhango, were surveyed using semi-structured interviews, focus groups and field notes. This resulted in a total of 79 semi-structured interviews, 4 focus group discussions and field observation data to analyse the situation in Usangu Plains. Data were analysed using NVIVO computer software for coding and themes’ generation. Major themes that emerged from the analysis were land-use change, tourism as a form of land use, tourism benefits and coping mechanisms. The findings from this study suggest that local communities do not perceive that they are benefitting from the change from agricultural to tourism practices. Changing the way local communities perceived themselves and are involved in conservation activities is the key to achieving the best conservation results and community residents’ involvement in future tourism activities in their areas
Understanding the language of tourism: Tanzanian perspective
(John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2014) Chiwanga, F. E.
Different from other languages such as newspeak, journalese and many others, tourism has its own linguistic line. The language of tourism necessitates tourism practitioners and tourists to endlessly learn it. It covers all forms of touristic communication at every stage of journey, safari and stay. This paper seeks to engage in the mediation between expertise about language and the actual language use in the tourism domain and highlights areas that need clear understanding. It not only helps tourism practitioners sell effectively available tourism products and services, and communicate competently with tourists and colleagues in the industry but also government officials in curricula and policy matters.We have found, through ethno-methodological and textual data, more features of language of tourism through Tanzanian tourism practitioners.
What Makes the Community in CBT?
(Routledge, 2015) MGONJA, J, T; SIRIMA, A
This case study draws upon findings from an investigation of the planning, structure and implementation of CBTs in a number of selected areas in Tanzania. In-depth semi structured interviews were conducted in 2012 with two CBT groups (one in the north and one in the central area) and pioneers who initiated the process of establishing a number of CBT initiatives in Tanzania. The research confirmed the lack of clarity over the term ‘community’ in the definition of the Tanzanian CBT model
Tanzania Tourism
(Springer, 2015) SIRIMA, A; MGONJA, J, T.
Tanzania has begun to diversify its tourism offers through cultural tourism under the supervision of Tanzania Tourist Board, aiming to promote rural livelihoods. Product development and service delivery are central to successful tourism development. Due to this, the national tourism policy attaches importance to human resource development. Many universities are now offering tourism related degree programs to meet the ever increasing demand for professionals in this field. In 2012, the government implemented a project to establish a new campus for the National College of Tourism.
Cultural community-based tourism in Tanzania: Lessons learned and way forward
(Routledge, 2015-02-13) MGONJA, J, T.; SIRIMA, A; BACKMAN, K, F.; BACKMAN, S, J.
Cultural tourism programmes (CTPs) provide opportunities for rural communities to supplement their income. While these programmes are intended to empower local people and reduce poverty, the mechanisms used for choosing the targeted ‘communities’ remain largely unexamined. This paper analyses the planning, structure and implementation of CTPs as a form of community based tourism in selected areas in Tanzania. Data were collected from two CTP groups (10 people in total) and five government officials at the national level using in-depth interviews. Analysis was carried out using NVIVO for theme generation. Major themes derived include lack of clear description of who constitutes CTPs and that existing CTPs differ greatly in terms of structure, size, development level and resource capacity, and many lack clear benefit-sharing mechanisms. There is a need for the government to continue supporting these initiatives at all levels, to nurture newly created CTPs and to provide continual technical support for the existing ones.
A review of ecotourism in Tanzania: Magnitude, challenges and prospects for sustainability
(Journal of Ecotourism, 2015-12) Mgonja, John T; Sirima, Agnes; Mkumbo, Peter J
In the recent past, the concept of ecotourism has been promoted in Tanzania as an alternative, low-impact form of tourism that supports conservation of natural resources, preserves local culture, and provides economic benefits to the communities. Existing evidence shows that Tanzania has not utilised most of its ecotourism potential. The actual amount of ecotourism activity in the country is highly localised and relatively minimal due to the following factors: accessibility problems in some protected areas, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient marketing and promotion. There is a need for regulatory authorities to articulate clear policies, regulations, and guidelines that delineate strategies on how to implement ecotourism activities in most parts of Tanzania. Such strategies should describe how to increase accessibility of ecotourism benefits to local communities, increase local community participation, and elucidate better mechanisms of sharing revenues generated from ecotourism. Given the abundance and diversity of natural and cultural resources in Tanzania, there is still room for growth, particularly in the southern, eastern, and western tourism circuits.
A review of ecotourism in Tanzania: magnitude, challenges, and prospects for sustainability
(Routledge, 2015-12-18) MGONJA, J, T; SIRIMA, A; MKUMBO, P, J
In the recent past, the concept of ecotourism has been promoted in Tanzania as an alternative, low-impact form of tourism that supports conservation of natural resources, preserves local culture, and provides economic benefits to the communities. Existing evidence shows that Tanzania has not utilised most of its ecotourism potential. The actual amount of ecotourism activity in the country is highly localised and relatively minimal due to the following factors: accessibility problems in some protected areas, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient marketing and promotion. There is a need for regulatory authorities to articulate clear policies, regulations, and guidelines that delineate strategies on how to implement ecotourism activities in most parts of Tanzania. Such strategies should describe how to increase accessibility of ecotourism benefits to local communities, increase local community participation, and elucidate better mechanisms of sharing revenues generated from ecotourism. Given the abundance and diversity of natural and cultural resources in Tanzania, there is still room for growth, particularly in the southern, eastern, and western tourism circuits.
A structural model to assess international visitors' perceptions about local foods in Tanzania
(Routledge, 2016) MGONJA, J, T; BACKMAN, K, F; BACKMAN, S, J.; MOORE, D, D; HALLO, J, C.
Interest in the use of local food in tourism and hospitality is growing in both industry and academic circles. Most research on local food has focused on its potential to enhance local community development, while relatively little research has examined the way tourists perceive local foods in developing countries. This study applies image theory to evaluate perceptions of international tourists regarding local foods in Tanzania. Data were collected between June and August, 2014 using a survey method. The study population consisted of 520 international tourists departing from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with EQS 6.2. The results demonstrated that cognitive/perceptual and affective evaluations are two interdependent psychological constructs which, taken together, play a key role in understanding individuals’ overall perception about local foods. The cognitive/perceptual evaluations formed by individuals as a result of accumulated knowledge and beliefs about local foods influence the way individuals perceive local foods. Likewise, the affective evaluations (feelings) about local foods significantly influenced individuals’ overall perceptions about local foods. The results also show that many hotels where tourists stayed did not provide sufficient varieties of, or information about, local foods. Recommendations arising from the research relating to food policy and regulation are presented.
FACTORS MODERATING AND MEDIATING VISITORS’ PERCEPTIONS ABOUT LOCAL FOODS IN TANZANIA
(Cognizant, LLC., 2016) MGONJA, J, T; BACKMAN, K, F.; BACKMAN, S, J; MOORE, D, D.; HALLO, J, C
Although Tanzania is well known for the quality of its natural and cultural resources, its food tourism linkages has largely remained unknown and unexplored. In recent years, the use of local foods in tourism has grown considerably and has become one of the most dynamic and creative segments of the tourism industry in the world. Most studies on food tourism networks have focused on the economic, environmental, and sociocultural impacts, while relatively little research has examined factors moderating and mediating international visitors’ perceptions on local foods in destinations they visit. The study population consisted of international tourists departing from Kilimanjaro International Airport (n = 520, response rate = 88.8%). Data were analyzed using general linear model (GLM) univariate from SPSS software and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results demonstrated that knowledge on sustainability mediate the relationships between visitors’ education and total perception about local foods in Tanzania. Further results illustrated that gender of the respondents moderate the relationship between individuals’ income and their total perception about local foods in Tanzania. This research not only highlights some key factors regarding perception of local foods but may also help explore how existing policy options should be polished to encourage food tourism linkages.
The Social and Economic Impacts of Ruaha National Park Expansion
(Open Journal of Social Sciences, 2016-06) Sirima, Agnes
Displacement of people to allow expansion of protected areas involves removing people from their ancestral land or excluding people from undertaking livelihood activities in their usual areas. The approach perpetuates the human-nature dichotomy, where protected areas are regarded as pristine lands that need to be separated from human activities. Beyond material loss, displaced communities suffer loss of symbolic representation and identity that is attached to the place. The aim of this paper was to assess impacts of Ruaha National Park expansions to the adjoining communities. Five villages were surveyed: Ikoga Mpya, Igomelo, Nyeregete, Mahango and Luhango. All participants were victims of the eviction to expand the park borders. Based on the conceptual analysis, major themes generated were: loss of access to livelihood resources, change in resource ownership, conservation costs, resource use conflict, place identity, and the role of power. Similar to previous studies, results show that local communities suffered both symbolic and material loss as a result of park expansion. Furthermore, it has shown that conflicts related to land use changes have roots within (pastoralist vs. farmers; Sangu vs. Sukuma) as well as from the outside. Hence, to better understand resource access and ownership, a deeper understanding of community characteristics/composition and their local interaction is important. Further, park expansion needs to take into consideration human livelihood need.
Local foods as an Impetus for Strengthening Leisure, Recreation and Sustainable Tourism in East Africa
(Taylor’s Press, 2016-09-02) MGONJA, J, T.
Leisure and recreation are relatively young fields of study in East Africa; as such, there is a scarcity of published information in these fields. Tourism on the other hand, has been extensively studied in this area. However, studies have focused on economic benefits of tourism. Food is considered to be a central component in all three fields but only a handful of studies have focused on the contribution of local food in the field. This study proposes that promoting local food can enhance leisure, recreation and tourism management leading to sustainability of parks and protected areas in the region.
Play and recreation in a developing country context: Assessing utility of Jardin public gardens, Bujumbura, Burundi
(AFAHPER-SD, 2017) KITHEKA, B, M; MCGUIRE, F, A.; NIBIGIRA, C,; MGONJA, J, T.
Play and recreation programming are increasingly becoming part of the modern city. This study explored the level of access to, satisfaction with, and perceptions of quality of Jardin Public Gardens, the only public open green space in Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital. The study evaluated distance, age, perceived quality, and satisfaction as facilitators of use of the gardens. The overall goal was to assess the role of the gardens in promoting social integration in a historically divided along hostile ethnic lines. Despite concerns with the poor quality of the facility and lack of diversity in recreation and play programs and activities, findings show that amenity is highly valued and accessible to residents. Recommendations are made to improve the facility, add more programs and support for play and recreation programming in Bujumbura for enhanced human and societal well-being.

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