Tourism plays a vital role in the economy of the United Republic of Tanzania (URT). It is the major source of foreign exchange; it accounts for about 16% of the GDP and nearly 25% of the total export earnings with an estimated 14,800 jobs in 1999 (Luhanho 2001).
Zanzibar experiences the same general trend occurring in the URT. Being a heaven for nature
tourism, Zanzibar has been influenced by a dramatic increase in number of visitors from 42,141 tourists in 1990 to 113,237 in year 2005, mostly enjoying the spice tour.
Since 1997, there has been a system of sharing the revenue from the tourism businesses with communities through the Forest Authority’s initiatives: The Forest Authority has developed a community-managed project (Pete-Jozani Mangrove Boardwalk) as an additional visitors’ attraction to the park, so as to enhance the revenue sharing system with partner communities.
Kiwengwa-Pongwe tourism zone (KPTZ) has a great potential to fully gain local economic benefits from tourism business in the area. But the fact is that there are very low benefits enjoyed by the community.
In their opinion, the main reasons why they did not enjoyed benefit is due to the lack of involvement of the local community in management, lack of education to the community and lack benefit-sharing mechanisms. Solving these issues is the only ways that can help to develop and sustain tourism and natural resources management on top of building community trust in conservation in the area.
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