Living Inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Perspective of the Maasai Community in Tanzania

A significant disconnect exists between the rhetoric surrounding World Heritage Sites (WHS) and their actual impact on local communities, as revealed by a study focusing on the Maasai community within Tanzania's Ngorongoro Conservation Area. While tourism offers limited economic benefits, the majority of residents perceive the WHS status as burdensome due to land access restrictions, livelihood threats, inadequate decision-making involvement, and unsatisfactory benefit-sharing mechanisms. These factors contribute to low appreciation for conservation efforts among the Maasai. The research highlights that meaningful community participation in both decision-making and benefit-sharing is crucial for the perceived success of WHS initiatives.

Melubo, K., & Lovelock, B. (2019). Living Inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Perspective of the Maasai Community in Tanzania. Tourism Planning & Development, 16(2), 197–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2018.1561505