Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Sustainable Tourism among Communities Adjacent to Arusha National Park, Tanzania
Keywords:
Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Sustainable Tourism, Cultural Ecology, Social Exchange Theory, Community Participation, Protected Areas , TanzaniaAbstract
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is increasingly recognized as an important community resource for environmental stewardship and cultural continuity, yet its relationship with Sustainable Tourism remains insufficiently established in protected area destinations. This study examined the relationship between TEK and Sustainable Tourism among communities adjacent to Arusha National Park, Tanzania. Guided by Social Exchange Theory and Cultural Ecology, the study employed a convergent mixed-methods design integrating a cross-sectional survey, semi-structured key-informant interviews, and documentary review. Of the planned 384 survey respondents, 352 provided usable responses, while 15 key informants participated in the qualitative strand. Sustainable Tourism was assessed as a multidimensional composite comprising economic, environmental, and socio-cultural sustainability. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple linear regression, while qualitative data were analyzed primarily through thematic analysis. TEK recorded a very high perceived level (M = 4.48, SD = 0.40) and was positively associated with Sustainable Tourism (r = .607, p < .001). The relationship remained positive and significant in the fully specified regression model (β = .208, p < .001) after accounting for the other variables in the analytical model. Qualitative findings contextualized this relationship through environmental stewardship and conservation practices; intergenerational knowledge, cultural heritage and community identity; wildlife coexistence and livelihood tensions; and stakeholder collaboration. The findings indicate that TEK is an important community resource associated with tourism sustainability, particularly through environmental stewardship and socio-cultural continuity, although its contribution is shaped by livelihood and institutional conditions. Protected area tourism and conservation institutions should therefore strengthen culturally appropriate recognition of community ecological knowledge while safeguarding community ownership and addressing conservation related livelihood costs.
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