Intergenerational Differences in Perceptions of Heritage Tourism Among the Maasai of Tanzania

Abstract

Besides wildlife tourism in the African savannah, cultural heritage tourism (sometimes known only as heritage tourism) is a big draw in Tanzania. In order to attract cultural tourism dollars, Maasai communities have established cultural bomas, typically pseudo Maasai villages where they display cultural performances and crafts before tourists. Such cultural contact has resulted in the growing influence of globalization that challenges traditional ways. The economic, social and environmental impact of heritage tourism on intergenerational relationships and community well-being has not been examined among the Maasai people. In this study, focus groups were conducted with different age-groups of Maasai people residing in Esilalei and Oltukai villages. Results suggest that for the Maasai, heritage tourism appears to be a double-edged sword. While tourism results in some trickled down economic benefits for the Maasai community, economic change appears to have created a social distance between generations.

Ethnicity and Child Health in Northern Tanzania: Maasai Pastoralists Are Disadvantaged Compared to Neighbouring Ethnic Groups

“…We also emphasize that the situation of the Maasai is perhaps particularly troubling given on-going “land grabbing” conflicts (reviewed in [19] ), and the widespread commodification of their culture for profit, both inside and outside of Tanzania. Studies of the impact of cultural tourism attractions, such as so-called “cultural bomas”, where Maasai pose for photographs, sing, dance and sell handmade products to tourists in an artificial settlement, indicate a complex mix of benefits and costs to local communities [16] , [17] , [68] . Moreover, it has been estimated that many foreign companies made multi-million dollar profits in the last decade from Maasai-themed products, ranging from clothing and bed covers, to car accessories and stationary, capitalising on the exotic image of the Maasai to a western audience [69] .…”

“…Owing to their proximity to the major East African game parks and their distinctive customs and dress, the Maasai have become perhaps the most globally recognizable ethnic group in sub-Saharan Africa [15] . Indeed they are commonly (mis)represented in advertisements and tourist commercials for both Kenya and Tanzania, and in recent years have become the focus of a burgeoning cultural tourism economy [16] , [17] .…”

Authenticity and place attachment of major visitor attractions

“…These elements, which can have a value of their own (value-in-self) and/or be allotted value as a part of a contextual story (value-in-context) (Heras et al, 2013;McDonald, 2011) bring heritage experience value to a region or a place (Hargrove, 2002), which in line with the association theory of cognitive psychology (Neisser, 1976) spill over to other visitor attractions. Thus, a positive relationship between the heritage value of tourism destinations and perceived authenticity of visitor attractions are assumed (Kalavar, Buzinde, Melubo, & Simon, 2014;Yankholmes & Akyeampong, 2010;Poria, Butler, & Airey, 2003). Following this line of reasoning the second hypothesis is:…”

Tanzania Citizens’ Participation in Domestic Tourism

“…Trust in this study is used to connote the government role in creating an enabling environment for citizens to participate in income generation through participation in domestic tourism. Lie and Peters (2016), Zaidan (2016), Moyle (2016) and Kalavar et al (2014) analyzed the component in different contexts, ranging from social capital, culture differences and social interactions. According to Nunkoo and Fung So (2015), the core components of the Social Exchange theory, namely trust, and the additional variable such as destination visit have to be considered simultaneously by researchers for a more accurate of residents' participation in tourism.…”

“…Hence researchers should test the components in an integrative framework. Kalavar et al (2014) used SET to analyze the economic, social and environmental impact of heritage tourism on the intergenerational relationship and community well-being. The study revealed that economic change appears to have created social distance between generations (Kalavar et al, 2014).…”