The Relationship between Tourism and Socio-Economic Aspects of the Maasai in Ngorongoro Conservation, Tanzania

Abstract

Tourism Industry by its nature in the World, it is the trait that cannot be separated from the social life of the communities as it is practised on their territorial lands that they depend for their socio-economic aspects. That strong relationship has caused rapid growth of tourism activities to developing countries and led to new national and international expectations for tourism as an agent of socio-economic development. The World GDP contributions from tourism by 2013 grew to 3.1% and contribute to 101 million jobs, and in Tanzania total contribution to GDP was 12.7% where by contributed 4.9% direct and total employment contribution were 11.2% and 3.8% direct of the total employment. In Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a population of about 87,851 residents from Maasai, Datoga and Hadzabe tourism contributed to 92% of the total economy of the area where by 8% was from other sources and 48% total community economy and 29.2% direct to people and 9.7% of total employment. The findings revealed that major relationship of the tourism and socio-economic based on economic activities contributions (livestock services), Social services (education, healthy, culture and life style), resources ownerships and infrastructure developments. The paper considered community survey of 120 local residents from 4 wards of the NCA, examines whether tourism has direct relationship to the Socio-economic aspects of the residents of the area and the levels of the contributions to their development. I found that regardless a claimed little contribution to their economy; many people appreciated the social and economic changes related to the tourism of the area.