| This thesis focuses on Pro-Poor Tourism (PPT) theory and its proposed shift away from philanthropic interventions to adopting business models. This shift has been presented as an ideal strategy for realizing net benefits for the impoverished people in tourist -frequented destinations. However, this thesis shows that embracing business models is a more challenging process than the theory suggests, thus its practicability should be problematized. This argument is advanced through the case study of the tourism and horticulture industries in the Serengeti National Park (SENAPA) in Tanzania. Eckstein's Discipline Configurative case study approach of enquiry is adopted to reveal the opportunities and challenges surrounding the demand and supply relationships of the two industries at the regional context. The field research was conducted through 84 qualitative interviews from February to April of 2011. The main conclusions of this study are that, with time, the proposed shift, if well planned and managed, could make a significant contribution to poverty alleviation efforts in SENAPA. This would require much attention, time and resources devoted to the transition period if any meaningful change is to be attained. Real change is therefore, largely dependent on massive co-operative efforts and commitment of the involved stakeholders in harnessing the required resources, guiding the interventions, and coordinating and managing the entire transition process.;Key Words: Pro-Poor Tourism, Horticulture, Philanthropy, Business Models, SENAPA, Discipline Configurative Case Study. |
