of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Households’ Income of Tourism Dependent Communities Around Ikona Wildlife Management Area, Serengeti District, Tanzania

Keraryo, Suleiman L. (2024) of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Households’ Income of Tourism Dependent Communities Around Ikona Wildlife Management Area, Serengeti District, Tanzania. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

This study focused on the effects of COVID-19 on the households’ income of tourism dependent communities around Ikona WMA. Three specific objectives were used in this study that is, to determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on households’ income; labour demand; and small-scale enterprises of the tourism dependent communities. The sample size was 226 respondents. The study employed a cross-sectional study design and used both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Both purposive and random sampling techniques were used. Questionnaires, interview guide, site observation, focus group discussion meetings and documentary reviews were used to collect data from respondents. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS statistics version 20 and content analysis. The study revealed that the decline of households’ income could be attributed to business closure, employees’ unpaid leave, compulsory leave and few hours of work. It was also revealed that low labour demand resulted to loss of jobs, reduced wages, and delayed salary payments. The effects of COVID-19 on small-scale enterprises resulted to low demand for tourism products/services, diminished operation capacity and variation in tastes and preferences of tourists, which ultimately resulted to the decline of households’ income. The study recommended that government should promote domestic tourism and encourage local communities to diversify their sources of income. The study concludes that the effects of COVID-19 cut across all sectors of economy however; tourism sector and the communities’ dependent on tourism sector were the most affected. Keywords: Communities, COVID-19, household income, tourism, Serengeti District

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