Microsoft Word 2007 ichrie conference Proceedings Final-Final 06-06-07. doc

Hospitality and tourism in Tanzania 
Tanzania is one of these nations that has been successfully marketing and developing its hospitality and 
tourism sector. Recently, the government of Tanzania recognized the role of small businesses and is attempting to 
reshape policy to provide a more supportive business and institutional environment for such businesses. In this 
context, this study is not only timely but can contribute significantly to understanding the nature of small hotel 
activity in Tanzania’s key tourism locations. Data for this study were collected from the Arusha, Dar es Salaam, and 
Mwanza regions. Even though small hotel activity is scattered in these three cities and in the rest of the country, 
there is evidence to suggest that these businesses are contributing significantly to the national economic 
development (Sharma, 2006). While there are success stories, as a whole the small business sector of the hospitality 
industries do not appear to be prospering and providing quality products and services. Mechanisms learned in other 
environmental contexts (such as developed or westernized economies) may not provide workable solutions to 
strengthen small business sector in developing nations. It may be more beneficial to understand how some 
businesses are becoming successful within the same environment while others are not.