A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of Master of Research and Public Policy of the Mzumbe University
This study was done to examine the roles of tourism industry in socio-economic
development of Zanzibar. Specifically, the study sought to identify contribution of
tourism industry in socio-economic development of Zanzibar, to examine the
strategies set by tourism stakeholders in promoting tourism industry in Zanzibar and
to identify challenges of tourism industry in Zanzibar. The methods employed to
obtain relevant information in this study were questionnaire, interview and
documentary review. Before data collection took place, those primary tools
(questionnaire and interview guide) were prepared and pilot tested for improving to
get valid and reliable data. The qualitative data were analysed by using three
qualitative techniques; these were comparison of data between sampling units,
pattern matching of data and by using strong explanation building as proposed by
Yin (1994). The quantitative data were analysed through tabulation, percentage and
frequencies by the help of Microsoft excel.
The result showed that the majority of the respondents agreed that tourism industry
has great contribution to the socio-economic development of Zanzibar. These
contributions include the following; generates employment opportunity, sources of
income and foreign currency, expansion of market for small business and traditional
goods, enabling understanding of different foreign languages, as well as encouraging
intermarriages between locals and foreigners (tourists). Moreover, maintenance of
cultural identity, environmental conservation and sanitation as well as promotion of
interaction and hospitality are strategies set by tourism stakeholders in promoting
tourism industry in Zanzibar. Furthermore, findings indicate that tourism industry in
Zanzibar is faced by a lot of challenges that hinder the development of tourism
industry in Zanzibar also the socio-economic development of Zanzibar. These
include encroachment by foreigners, bureaucracy, political instability and presence
of insecurity events.
The study recommends that the government should use these set strategies properly
to improve the tourism industry in Zanzibar. Also all stakeholders must come
together to perform their responsibilities to implement set strategies for promoting
tourism industry in Zanzibar.