A study to assess contribution of hunting tourism to general economy was conducted in
Tanzania. This aimed at assessing the significance of Hunting Tourism (HT) to economic
growth, community development and household income in Tanzania. Purposively
Tanzania and Selous Game Reserve was selected to study contribution at macro and micro
levels. Simple random sampling technique applied to select districts, wards, villages and
households where data was collected for micro level study. At macro level secondary time
series data was collected using literature review technique and at micro level structured
questionnaire and focus group discussion techniques were applied. A total of 90
households were randomly selected from three villages around Selous Game Reserve
namely: Msolwa station, Miguruwe and Ngarambe. At macro level data analysed by using
descriptive statistics, trend analysis, Johansen test for co-integration and granger causality
test. At micro level descriptive statistics, trend analysis and multiple regression of
household income against other source of income were done. Generally results show that
there is declining of hunting tourism business due decrease of hunting clients and animal
hunted yearly; however, revenue collection is increasing. This is attributed by government
policy due to changes in wildlife policy and fee structure. Apart from that since 1988 to
2013 the industry has been growing with annual average growth rate of 0.073%. However,
the average annual contribution of HT to GDP growth has been decreasing from 1988 to
2013. Also unidirectional long run relationship exist between hunting tourism revenue and
GDP which run from hunting tourism to GDP thus revealing the significance of hunting
tourism to economic growth (GDP) of Tanzania. Conversely, the results indicate that
contribution of HT to community development and household income was very little and
insignificance. This is due to poor monitoring of benefit sharing scheme and none
adherence of hunting regulation by hunting companies. Therefore, hunting tourism is more
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beneficial at macro level (GDP) as it contributes to economic growth but not beneficial at
micro level as little contribution is experienced, this has an implication to the participatory
approach management policy and its incentive to the participating communities. The
participation dis-incentive also has implication in the ongoing constraints in conservation
strategies. This study recommends good monitoring system to make the industry more
beneficial to community and household level.