Challenges facing lodging operations in Tanzania’s national parks
| dc.contributor.author | Mhalafu, Francis | |
| dc.contributor.author | Jani, Dev | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-03-22T08:43:09Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-03-22T08:43:09Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021-02-25 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Tanzania is among few countries that has designated larger parts of its land under national parks as an initiatives to preserve the flora and fauna for the benefits of both current and future generations. In order to utilize these natural resources for tourism purposes, tourism facilities like lodges need to be within the national parks. Sustainability of businesses within designated national parks worldwide including those in Tanzania have been questioned given the environment in which they are operating as well as the profit motive that logically led to the lodging operations. This chapter reports the results of a study that aimed at exploring sustainability challenges facing lodges in Tanzanian National Parks and the coping strategies used to overcome those challenges. A qualitative approach was used in collecting primary data. An in-depth interview with the aid of a checklist was used in gathering relevant information from those who are operating and/or owning lodges inside the national parks. A sequential purposive sampling was used in selecting 7 national parks among the 16 national parks in Tanzania and the selection of 14 interviewees in those national parks. Thematic content analysis was employed to analyze data. The inter-rater coding reliability was performed that yielded 95% level of agreement. The study identified taxation, human capital, distance, poor infrastructure, information challenge, regulations and licensing procedures, non inclusivity in planning by higher authorities, and animal factors to be the main challenges hindering the lodging business to become more sustainable. The study also recognized that, there is unpredictable business climate for lodges operating in the national parks. Some of the coping strategies used by lodgers to overcome the challenges include forming and joining associations, motivating their employees, having good stock management, strict observation of rules and regulations set by the national parks, and in certain situations opting to do nothing. The study offers implications to most of the stakeholders including the central government, national park authorities, local communities, and lodgers. The government and national park authorities should consider amending the policies and regulations that influence the lodgers. The local communities by themselves and/or with the assistance from government or non-governmental organizations can be more proactive in supplying the lodges with operational necessities as well as human resources. In setting up their lodgers, the lodgers should not only consider touristic points of attractions but also logistics. Keywords: lodge, national parks, Tanzania, sustainability challenges, coping strategies | en_US |
| dc.identifier.citation | Mhalafu, F.C. & Jani, D. (2021). Challenges facing lodging operations in Tanzania’s national parks. In Anderson, W., Mossberg, L. & Andersson, T.D. (Editors), Sustainable Tourism Development in Tanzania. Cambridge Scholars Publishing: Newcastle, UK. 125-146. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.isbn | 1-5275-6225-5 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/5558 | |
| dc.publisher | Cambridge Scholars Publishing | en_US |
| dc.subject | Tourism, Parks, Sustainability, Lodges | en_US |
| dc.title | Challenges facing lodging operations in Tanzania’s national parks | en_US |