Contribution of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority in improving welfare of the communities: The case of Ngorongoro and Endulen villages in Ngorongoro

Abstract

This study intended to assess the contribution of tourism to the communities’ welfare in Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Specifically, the study aimed at (i) identifying services provided by the NCAA to the community within the area; (ii) examining the involvement of the people in deciding the kind of services to be offered; and (iii) assessing the effectiveness of the tourism development strategies to improve the standards of living of the community. The study interviewed a total of 180 respondents from two villages namely Endulen and Ngorongoro. Questionnaires, observation, interviews and documentary reviews were used to collect both primary and secondary data. The findings revealed there were a number of development projects established in the areas. These projects include water services, infrastructure (roads, buildings, and dams), health services and education services. It was also found that there were various locations where the community members marketed their products, mostly meat and milk, in hotels and tour companies. The study also found that community members were mainly involved in revenue collection especially in walking safaris and guiding tourists. Community involvement was very high in walking safaris as well as in donkey/camel hiring. The findings further reveal that participation was low in coordinating walking tourist and permit control. Further, it was found that community members were benefiting financially through social services provision due to tourism activities that generated income to the NCA, as well as to individual through the involvement in the community tourism projects like cultural bomas. It was in addition found that tourism and livestock were the two fast growing economic activities in the NCAA. The study made several recommendations to Ngorongoro Pastoralist Council (NPC), NCAA and to tourism companies as well as communities in the sense that community engagement is of value in the tourism industry so as to acquire license of operation and the maximization of the benefits that are derived from the industry.