Now that’s an exciting title! But really, beginning our direct research for our Environmental Policy teacher Mwamhanga has been really interesting and fun. I am researching domestic tourism within the Northern Circuit Parks of Tanzania. Or maybe more inappropriately the lack there of. Despite its booming foreign tourism industry, in Tanzania very few citizens travel regularly to National Parks. Tanzania gives a discount for citizens- entry cost is 1,500 THS or a little over a dollar compared to the 30 USD at Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Yet they miss the point, as most Tanzanians I’ve interviewed didn’t own car, and therefore couldn’t get to the parks. Many have not had a chance to go, and want to go. How do I know?
1. Do you visit the parks? Y/N
a. Where?
b. How often?
c. Do you want to go again? Y/N Where:
2. If you do not visit, why not?
□ Money □ Transport □ No interest □ Other: ________________________
3. How important is it to you to visit a national park
□ Very important □ Somewhat □ Not at all
4. What can be done so more people can visits parks?
5. For what reason would you go to a National Park?
□ To see animals □ to learn about animals □ to learn about conservation □ To learn about the environment □ To have fun □ Other: ________________________
And so on. I’ve gotten some pretty interesting answers, including that because grazing cattle is forbidden on National Park land (in this case Manyara’s), many farmers think they themselves are not allowed in parks at all. Can you say HUGE knowledge gap- perhaps the government should address this.
And actually, that’s exactly what I’m hoping my research will do: prompt change in the dearth of domestic tourism by reporting on what population demographics can’t and yet want to attend parks, why facilitation of visits would be beneficial to conservation efforts and how an increase domestic tourism can be realized.
We’ve also be interviewing school kids. This school- Kilimatembo Secondary has a fantastic environmental conservation program that included teaching kids trees planting skills and rain water harvesting. Through their Mali Hai (“living wealth”) club, some kids can visit parks. However, in contrast at a primary school at ChemChem the kids didn’t know what a national park was.
We’re still collecting data and there is a a lot of work yet to do, but I’ll keep you posted.
-Kate
Location: mto wa mbu, tanzania
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