TERRORISM: A THREAT TO TOURISM INDUSTRY IN ARUSHA REGION

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of terrorism as a threat to tourism industry in Arusha region. The study adapted a survey design, with a descriptive approach. Data was collected through a questionnaire which was tested through a pilot study before it was administered. The result of the pilot study was 0.751 mean Cronbach Alpha coefficients. Probability sampling was used to get the sample size of 103 workers from the selected tour operating companies in Arusha region. The findings revealed that bombing, armed attacks and assassination, arsons and fire bombings were the types of terrorist activities that took place in Arusha region. It was also found that terrorist activities affected tourism industry in Arusha region, and that the level of the threat was moderate. The study concluded that terrorist activities have effects on tourism industry, its effects causes decline of tourism industry, decrease in foreign exchange, decrease in tourist arrivals, drop of income of tour operating companies, and change of tourist behavior due to risk. The study recommended that government should strengthen its security system and intelligence unity so as whenever there is sign of terrorist activities they got alert and take some serious measures to prevent them. Tour operators should make sure that they have correct travelling information about their destination before they embark on their tour to come Tanzania so as to avoid terrorist to come to our country by the name of tourists.