THE CONTRIBUTION OF TOURISM SECTOR IN CREATING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN KILIMANJARO REGION, TANZANIA - Africa Natural Tours ( africanaturaltours.com )
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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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