Assessment of the Involvement of Indigenous Peoples in the Development of Cultural Tourism in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Arusha Region

The study assessed the involvement of indigenous peoples in cultural tourism development in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, in Arusha region, in northern Tanzania. The specific objective of this research was to identifying the cultural tourism resources found in the NCA, examining the effect of indigenous peoples’ involvement in cultural tourism activities in the NCA, to examine the challenges facing indigenous peoples’ involvement in cultural tourism activities in the NCA. This research also evaluated measures to address challenges facing indigenous peoples’ involvement in cultural tourism activities in NCA. The study design adopted in this study was case study research design. The sample size was focused on 150 indigenous peoples, 8 local leaders and 6 tourism officers as a sample size. Simple random and purposive sampling methods were used in editing sample. Data collection instruments were questionnaires, focus group discussion, interview, and observation. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS and presented in descriptive statistics. Challenges facing indigenous peoples involvement in cultural tourism are; conflicts of interest between tourists and some members of the Indigenous peoples, lack of education, poor social services, cultural differences, poor marketing, diseases like anthrax, Eyes and malaria and lack of capital. Study recommends that, government, Non-governmental Organizations and other tourism stakeholders to provide education and training to the indigenous peoples in order to build their capacity. Government should set strategies on how to technically and financially support the indigenous peoples who are involved in cultural tourism activities