The effects of tourism investments on poverty reduction in rural communities in Tanzania: the case of Serengeti district
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Date
2009
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine Universitry of Agriculture
Abstract
Tanzania is among the few countries in the world endowed with vast range of tourist
attractions. The tourism industry is Tanzania’s greatest success story since the introduction
of free market economy in 1990s. Despite its impressive recent economic performance,
Tanzania remains a poor country. The purpose of this study was therefore to assess the
effects of tourism investments on poverty reduction in rural communities in Serengeti
district. The specific objectives were to: identify types of tourism investments; examine
the effects of tourism investments; and determine the potential tourism development
investments.
Data were collected from 124 respondents, including 100 community
members household heads and 24 key informants using questionnaires, researcher’s diary
and checklist. Quantitative data were analysed by using SPSS computer software and
“content analysis technique” was used to analyse qualitative data. The study identified
different types of tourism investments in rural communities in the study area, their effects
on poverty reduction, and potential for tourism investments development.
It was
concluded that: employment opportunities for rural communities were low in cadres with
skills and remuneration; local people have complex livelihoods strategies which are
affected by tourism in various ways; and there is a clear opportunity to have significantly
their benefits from tourism. Thus, it was recommended that in order to increase tourism
effects on poverty reduction, there is a need to institute training programmmes that would
ultimately provide chance for rural communities to be employed in high cadres with high
pay; rural communities to have considerable role in decision making; and the community
to integrate its marketing and products strategies to take the best advantage of existing
tourism opportunities. Areas for further research are also suggested.
Description
Keywords
Investments, Poverty, Rural communities, Serengeti district, Tourism industry
Citation
Maleya R.N(2009).The effects of tourism investments on poverty reduction in rural communities in Tanzania: the case of Serengeti district .Morogoro;Sokoine University of Agriculture.