Abstract:
ABSTRACT
This study aims to investigate the influence of government initiatives on the
development of the tourism industry in Tanzania, with a specific focus on Ngorongoro
Conservation Area. The study explores strategies, their contributions, and the
challenges that hinder the effective implementation of these initiatives, guided by the
Sustainable Development Theory (SDT). The study adopts a mixed-methods approach
using a convergent parallel design. Quantitative data were collected through close-
ended questionnaires administered to 138 employees from travel agents, hotels, and
handicrafts in three wards around Ngorongoro conservation area who were selected
through simple random sampling strategy. Qualitative data were gathered through
semi-structured interviews with 4 key informants, who are leaders of each population
category including driver, tour guide, hotelier, and handicraftsman who were
purposively selected. Descriptive statistics was used for quantitative data analysis,
employing IBM SPSS version 25 for frequencies, means, and correlations. Thematic
analysis, supported by NVivo software, was used for analysing qualitative data. The
findings revealed that government initiatives, such as policies, infrastructure
development, and promotional strategies, have a significant influence on the
development of tourism in Tanzania. However, challenges such as weak collaboration
between stakeholders, inadequate infrastructure, and political instability hinder the
successful implementation of these strategies. This study expects to provide valuable
insights for policymakers and stakeholders in the tourism sector, highlighting the
importance of strategic government initiatives, infrastructure improvements, and
collaborative efforts. Addressing these challenges is essential for fostering sustainable
tourism growth in Tanzania. This study contributes to the limited research on the
comprehensive impact of government initiatives on tourism development, particularly
by integrating both qualitative and quantitative insights. It also addresses gaps in the
existing literature by focusing on the holistic influence of government strategies
beyond policies or promotional activities alone.
