This research article was published in the Journal of Hospitality Management and Tourism Vol. 13(2), July-December 2022
This review paper assesses the role of tour operators towards sustaining ecotourism in Tanzania. The
motive behind it is based on the argument that tour operators have an important role within the
ecotourism multi-stakeholder. However, little has been documented on how best to engage them for
sustainable ecotourism. Thus, this paper provides a concise overview of the relevant literature,
highlighting existing knowledge and gaps for prospective future research. In addition to the literature
review and methods, the result section of the paper is organized in such a way that it elaborates on key
concepts and provides the setup and organization of tour operators. As a core part of the review, this
study underlined four key roles of tour operators towards sustainable ecotourism: their involvement in
planning, development, promotion, and implementation of ecotourism products. The study concluded
that ecotourism supporting and regulating machinery must work closely and strategically with tour
operators at the individual level or through their existing tourism associations in order to ensure that
those four identified areas are effectively and efficiently carried out, not only to enhance their business
but also to conserve and market the destination sites and contribute to the country’s revenue.