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Tourism is growing rapidly worldwide and its fastest-growing segment is nature-based tourism
(NBT) (Kuenzi & McNeely, 2008), which typically involves experiencing wildlife biodiversity
and enjoying natural environments (Eagles. 2001; Naidoo & Adamowicz. 2005). NBT can take
many different forms, including trekking in mountains and engaging in wildlife safaris.
Tanzania is a prime destination for NBT in Sub-Saharan Africa. The cou:
a tu acted 1.2
million international tourists in 2016. up from 0.6 million in 2006 (World Bank •■) 161. In 2016,
international tourism contributed 13% to GDP. 12% to employment and 21% to <por’ earnings
(WTTC. 2017). Half of the international tourists engage in NBT (Mgonja et al.. 2015. and this
makes NBT an important economic sector in Tanzania.
Tanzanian NBT largely depends on attractions that are supported by natural environments and that
include mega-fauna, wildlife migration in Serengeti and snow on Mount Kilimanjaro (Kilungu
et al.. 2014; Tanzania Tourism Sector Survey, 2017). An attraction is a physical, environmental
or cultural feature that meets a specific tourist's desire to travel to a specific destination (Leiper,
1979; Gunn & Var, 2002). A destination is a geographic area with political or administrative
boundaries that provides tourists with a range of attractions for a memorable experience (Manente,
2008; Bomhorst et al., 2010; United Nations, 2010). Without developed attractions, NBT and
its destinations would not exist (Yale. 1991). This means that the continued growth of NBT in
Tanzania depends on the quality of natural environments and its attractions. My thesis considers
Tanzanian national parks, game reserves, nature reserves and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
all as NBT destinations, while wildlife, plants and snow are major nature-based tourist attractions. |
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