The Role of Local Government Authorities in Facilitating Community Participation for Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises Growth

Community participation in Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs) has been assumed to be one of the best ways to benefit from tourism sector. However, the persistent problem facing local tourism is how to improve the growth of SMTEs. This study was set to bridge this knowledge gap on the role of local government in supporting Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises. The study objective was to assess the Local Government Authorities role in facilitating community participating in tourism for the SMTEs growth. Guided by stakeholders theory, the study followed a quantitative research approach and a cross-sectional survey design. Questionnaires were used to collect data from census of 232 SMTEs owners-managers. The study used multiple linear regressions for data analysis. The study findings indicated that community participation has positive and significance contribution to SMTEs growth in Tanzania. The study concludes that the LGAs role in facilitating tourism is partially contributing to SMTEs growth. This could be attributed by tourism policy and Act which are not aligned to stipulate the roles of LGAs in local tourism. The most important lesson of the study is that if LGAs in their area of jurisdiction are actively engaged in tourism SMTEs will grow significantly. The study recommended a review of Tourism legal framework so that LGAs part to development process of local tourism.