Browsing by Author "Mushi, Marygoreth Pantaleo"

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    The contribution of ecotourism to poverty reduction: a case study of local communities living adjacent to Udzungwa Mountain national park (UMNP) in Kilombero district- Morogoro
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2017) Mushi, Marygoreth Pantaleo
    This study examined the contribution of ecotourism in poverty reduction for the communities living adjacent to Udzungwa Mountain National Park in Kilombero District. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Key informants were interviewed using a checklist to acquire qualitative data. The study also used household questionnaire to obtain quantitative data. Purposively sampling was used to select the villages as the representatives of the study. The study sample involved 130 households from local communities. The study revealed that about 23.1% of the respondents are involved in ecotourism with other economic activities as local tour guides, porters, hotel employees and handcrafters whereas about 76.9% are non-participants of ecotourism who practice farming and livestock keeping. Respondents’ perception towards ecotourism is largely negative with 25% being in harmony while 75% are not in harmony with existence of ecotourism in their areas. The respondents who engage in ecotourism get an average income of Tsh.5,833/= per day. This indicates that ecotourism play a role of reducing poverty (Poverty Line Index-USD1.90 equivalent to Tsh.4136.5/=). However, the study depicts that ecotourism contributes very low in poverty reduction because of the low level of awareness and participation in the activity. Earnings accrued from ecotourism activities are spent in acquiring basic needs such as food, cloth and shelter (rent) as well as other expenditure such as medical treatment, education and investing in other economic activities. The study revealed that participants and non-participants of ecotourism face limiting factors such as lack of ecotourism awareness, language barrier, lack of capital, few number of tourists and poor infrastructure. The study therefore recommends creation of awareness and provision of training on ecotourism related activities skills to local communities, provision of capital in terms of loans and grants and initiating of ecotourism projects which local communities can fully participate as well as marketing and promotion of ecotourism destinations.