THE CONTRIBUTION OF TOURISM SECTOR IN CREATING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN KILIMANJARO REGION, TANZANIA Africa Natural Tours - ( africanaturaltours.com )
THE CONTRIBUTION OF TOURISM SECTOR IN
CREATING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN KILIMANJARO REGION, TANZANIA
Africa Natural Tours
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Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and Zanzibar) Tanzania safari company in Moshi
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By Godfrey A. Ngaiza
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Tourism linkages occur through the obvious channel of distribution from the supplier to the consumer as in a hotel, but also through linkages between tourism and other productive and service sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, transport and construction related value added activities stem from non-hotel expenditures by travelers on leisure, entertainment and shopping which generally particularly stimulate traditional culture activities, tourist services and handcrafts (Isaac, 2012). The corollary objective for an enhance tourism investment program is to generate employment directly in the tourism sector and in linked production and service sectors as well as to increase household earnings for local people involved in the sector and in its related activities (Briguglio, 2006).
The government of Tanzania views tourism
as a significant industry in terms of job creation, poverty alleviation and
foreign exchange earnings.(Kweka 2014). Tourism today is receiving a greater
attention than ever before from international development Agencies and from
National tourism policy and strategies in Tanzania governments. To many
countries, tourism is the highest foreign exchange earner and an important provider of employment (Kweka, 2014).
Statistics available also indicate that, Africa’s market share in 1999 was 2.0%
Given the size of our continent, the beauty of Africa, the diversity and
uniqueness of tourism attractions in Africa, there is still room for a bigger growth in both
tourist arrivals and receipts. Tanzania is therefore determined to have its
fare share in this important industry, whereby the sector plays a vital role in
the country’s economic development and it is one of the major sources of
foreign exchange (WTO, 2002).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The
United Republic of Tanzania has launched the National Strategy for Growth of employment
opportunities which is encouraged by tourism (URT, 2015). Employment problem is
currently a major concern for many developing countries including Tanzania. Travel
and Tourism directly supported 467,000 jobs or 4.3% of total employment in
Tanzania and 12.2% of total employment with 1,337,000 jobs (Luvanga and
Shitundu, 2013).
According to Makame (2007) tourism
sector is mostly important to the local community in Zanzibar, in northern
region there is a number of people come to work in the hotel sector while Kweka
(2004) indicated that tourism contributes to economic growth in Tanzania. Bryden
(2013) in his study indicated that there is a contribution of
tourism to poverty reduction in developing countries and so sustainable tourism
can act as a catalyst for socio-economic development and poverty reduction,
through job creation and productive employment preservation of the natural
environmental and cultural traditions and investments of tax revenues derived
from tourism activities in education, health and infrastructure development. Furthermore Briguglio (2006) studied
on Sustainable Tourism and he showed its importance is
gaining widespread recognition.
Despites
of the studies done on tourism, no a study examined the
contribution of tourism sector in creating employment opportunities in
Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. Therefore this study will examine the
contribution of tourism sector in creating employment opportunities
specifically in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania.
1.3
Research Objective
1.3.1 General objective
To
examine the contribution of tourism sector in creating employment opportunities
in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania
1.3.2 Specific objective
(i) Identify tourism activities carried out in Kilimanjaro region towards creating employment opportunities in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania
(ii) To identify challenges facing accessing the employment from tourism sector in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania
(iii) Examining means of strengthening
tourism activities towards creating
employment opportunities in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania
1.4 Research Questions
i. What are tourism activities carried out in Kilimanjaro region towards creating employment opportunities in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania?
ii. What are challenges facing accessing the employment from tourism sector in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania?
iii.
What
are means of strengthening tourism activities towards creating employment opportunities
in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania?
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Tourism Development towards Employment Creation in Tanzania
The
strength of the appeal of Tanzania to tourist product is dominated by natural
assets of the country. The assessment is that by any standards, Tanzania is an
exceptionally beautiful and interesting country. With its 12 National parks, 31
Game reserves, 38 Game controlled areas, a Conservation area and Marine park,
Tanzanians wildlife resources are considered among the finest in the world and
have been widely known for many years. They include the great Serengeti plains,
the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Africa’s highest mountain,
Kilimanjaro, in the north, Mikumi, Udzungwa and Ruaha National parks and Selous
game Reserve in the south. Additional natural attractions include the sandy
beaches in the north and south of Dar es Salaam and the excellent deep-sea
fishing at Mafia.
Tanzania has a
rich heritage of archaeological, historical and rock painting sites, a number
of which have been designated to World Heritage Sites. At Olduvai Gorge, in the
interior Rift Valley, is the site of discoveries of the traces of earliest man,
and along the Indian Ocean are the remains of settlements. To a tourist,
Tanzania offers interesting culture and crafts, most notably the Maasai culture
and art and the Makonde sculptures and carvings the list is endless (Haji,
2011).
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design
In
this study, a cross-sectional research design will be deployed. The benefit of
a cross-sectional study design is that will allow the study to compare
different variables. Applying this design will help to collect data concerning tourism activities carried out in Kilimanjaro region, challenges
facing accessing the employment from tourism sector and means of strengthening tourism
activities towards creating employment opportunities so as
to examine the contribution of tourism sector in creating employment
opportunities in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania.
3.2 Description of the study Area
This study will be carried out in
Kilimanjaro region covering the areas where tourism operates. Kilimanjaro
region has a total land area of 58 sq. km. According to the 2012 National
Census, the region had a population of 1,640,087. The reason for its selection
is because; the region is the pilot area for implementation of tourism
activities. This prompted to undertake the study so as to ascertain the contribution of tourism sector
in creating employment opportunities in Kilimanjaro Tanzania. Furthermore Kilimanjaro
region is the source of tourists attraction due to the presence of the highest
mountain in Africa the Kilimanjaro Mountain.
3.3 Sampling
3.3.1 Sample population and Sample size
The
sampling frame will comprise households from Hotels/ Lodge, Tours Companies,
Curio Shops, Guide and porters association, tented camps and TANAPA in Kilimanjaro
Region. From the sample frame, according to Fisher,
1991 sample
size will be 384 households.
3.3.3 Sampling techniques
The
study will use simple random sampling technique. Simple random sampling through
providing an equal chance of selecting households, a total of 384 respondents
will be drawn from Hotels/ Lodge, Tours Companies, Curio Shops, Guide and
porters association, tented camps and TANAPA. This technique enables the
researcher to extract the right and intended data and information from the
respondents who have enough knowledge on the subject matter.
3.4 Data Collection
3.4.1 Types and Sources of Data
For the purpose of this study, the study will collect primary data and secondary data which will involve socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, tourism activities, challenges facing accessing the employment from tourism and means of strengthening tourism activities towards creating employment opportunities
For
this study, primary data will be collected from households and secondary data will
be collected from existing literature on employment to community. Secondary
data for this study will involve a review of a number of books, reports, study
journal, magazines and newsletter, previous study which are relevant to the
study. This data will be taken from TANAPA office in Kilimanjaro region.
3.4.2 Data Collection Techniques
The
study will use various methods and techniques of collecting both primary and
secondary data during the study. The researcher will use interviews and
questionnaires as methods and techniques of collecting data.
3.4.2.1 Interview
Interview
will be conducted to collect qualitative information such as opinions and views
of the study. Interviews will be guided by interview TANAPA staff, Tours
Company, curio shops and guide and porters association will be interviewed
during data collection; they will be able to come up with the answers on
interview questions. The advantages of using interview is quick method of
gathering information, the study will identify whether the respondents
understands the questions and the method is not restricted to educated class
alone.
3.4.2.2 Surveying
Under
this technique questionnaire tool will be used. Questionnaire is a
pre-formulated written set of questions to which respondents record their
answers, usually within rather closely defined alternatives. Questionnaires
will contain open as well as closed-ended questions, which allowed individuals
to express their views concerning importance of tourism in creating employment
to community. The questionnaires will be distributed to household by researcher
aimed at getting information regarding the contribution of tourism sector in
creating employment opportunities in Kilimanjaro Region.
3.4.2.3 Documentary Review
In
section various written sources such as guide and porter association reports,
journals on employment creation by tourism sector and employment creation
policies will be reviewed by a researcher so as to obtain the required
information. The document to be reviewed will be obtained from TANAPA
Kilimanjaro office and the document to be revered will be annual employment
rate report, annual report on the performance of tourism sector.
3.5 Reliability and Validity of Data
3.5.1 Data Reliability
Cronbach's alpha test which is a coefficient
of reliability (or consistency) will be used to determine the internal
consistency or reliability of data. This
will be done through observing a reliability coefficient of 0.70 or higher as
"acceptable" in most social research situations. In addition a
cut-off of 0.6 is common for many explanatory researches although Miller and
others (2001) suggest that alpha should be 0.7 or higher to retain a variable
in “adequate scale”. This helps to reveal how closely related the items under
each factor are as a group. A "high" value of alpha is often
used (along with substantive arguments and possibly other statistical measures)
as evidence that the items measure an underlying (or latent) construct.
3.5.2 Validity
Kombo
and Tromp (2006); describe validity as referring to whether the instrument is
describing what was intended to be described or measured. It is the ability to
which the results of a study can be verified against the stated objectives.
Prior to the actual study, the research will be conducted informal visits to
the area of study in order to be familiar with the respondents. Also it
will be ensured throughout the study by data triangulation using different data
collection methods including surveying, interview and
documentary review In order to ensure, validity of research data or
information, the researcher carried out a trial exercise which will enable the
researcher to make necessary corrections to the study instrument in order to
improve validity of information from the actual research
3.6 Data Analysis Technique
Both qualitative and
quantitative data will be analysed from primary and secondary sources. Quantitative
approach will be applied to analyze data collected and stored in numerical
values. The analysis of quantitative data will be through the use of SPSS
computer software version 20. Several steps will be adopted during the SPSS
process;
The
first objective being analysis of tourism activities carried out in Kilimanjaro
region towards creating
employment opportunities in Kilimanjaro Tanzania will be analyzed through
descriptive statistics, in terms of means and frequencies.
The
third objective which is to identify challenges facing the community in
accessing employment from tourism sector will be analyzed through descriptive
statistics, in terms of means and frequencies.
The
third objective being analysis means of strengthening tourism
activities towards creating
employment opportunities in Kilimanjaro Tanzania will be analyzed through
descriptive statistics, in terms of means and frequencies.
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