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The Socio-Economic Impacts of Tourism Development in Sierra Leone: A Pilot Study

Received: 31 October 2020    Accepted: 16 November 2020    Published: 27 November 2020
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Abstract

Tourism is a fast-growing industry, and one of the most vital sectors that drive the economic growth of a nation. This current work investigates the socio-economic impact of tourism in Sierra Leone. Therefore, the objectives of this research are to (1) analyze the contribution of tourism to national employment and poverty alleviation (2) analyze the contribution of tourism to the local economy (3) assess the impacts of tourism on destination regions in Sierra Leone. A total of 130 respondents from different works of life are targeted for this study. Results revealed that tourism have provided employment opportunities for many people especially youths. However, the nature of employment ranged from full time to part time. Tourism has also help many locals to establish business enterprises to meet the needs and demands of tourists. This has contributed to local economic growth in most part of the country. Both positive and negative impacts of tourism were identified on this current study. The positive impacts included cultural exchange between tourists and local people, infrastructural development in tourist destination communities or areas, and local currency flow. Soaring crime rates, cultural invasion, high cost of living are some of the negative implications of tourism identified by respondents.

DOI 10.11648/j.ebm.20200606.11
Published in European Business & Management (Volume 6, Issue 6, November 2020)
Page(s) 128-135
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Development, Impact, Socio-economic, Sierra Leone, Tourism

References
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[3] World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) - Tanzania (2017). “Travel and Tourism Economic Impact 2017, Tanzania”. Travel and Tourism Council, London, UK.
[4] Chulaphan, W., and Barahona, J. F., (2018). Contribution of disaggregated tourism on Thailand's economic growth. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences 39, 401-406. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.kjss.2017.07.012.
[5] Government of Sierra Leone (2019). Sierra Leone’s medium-term national developmen plan 2019–2023.
[6] Matias, A., Nijkamp, P., and Sarmento, M. (2001). Tourism Economics, Impact Analysis. Springer Heidelberg Dordrecht London New York.
[7] Shakya, M. (2009). Competitiveness Assessment of Tourism in Sierra Leone A Cluster-Based Approach. Policy Research Working Paper 5083 Available at http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/786751468104059940/pdf/WPS5083.pdf.
[8] World Travel and Tourism Council (2017). Travel & Tourism Global Economic Impact & Issues.
[9] World Bank Group (2018). Sierra Leone Economic Update; Reviving Urban Development the Importance of Freetown for the National Economy Edition No 1.
[10] Hateftabar, F., and Chapuis, J. M., (2020). How resident perception of economic crisis influences their perception of tourism. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management 43, 157–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2020.02.009.
[11] Alrwajfah, M. M., Almeida-García, F., and Cortés-Macías, R., (2020). Females’ perspectives on tourism’s impact and their employment in the sector: The case of Petra, Jordan. Tourism Management 78, 104069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2019.104069.
[12] Ohlan, R. (2017). The relationship between tourism, financial development and economic growth in India. Future Business Journal 3, 9–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fbj.2017.01.003.
[13] Croes, R., Ridderstaat, J., Bąk, M., and Zientara, P. (2021). Tourism specialization, economic growth, human development and transition economies: The case of Poland. Tourism Management 82, 104181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2020.104181.
[14] Gnanapala, W. K. A., and Sandaruwani, J. A. R. C. (2016). Socio-economic Impacts of Tourism Development and Their Implications on Local Communities. International Journal of Economics and Business Administration. 2 (5) 59-67.
[15] Khandare, V., and Phophueksanand, P. (2018). Social and Cultural Impact of Tourism Development in Thailand. International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences, 8 (2).
[16] Mbaiwa, J. E. (2003). The socio-economic and environmental impacts of tourism development on the Okavango Delta, north-western Botswana. Journal of Arid Environments (2003) 54: 447–467 doi: 10.1006/jare.2002.1101.
[17] Kweka, J., Oliver, M., and Blake, A. (2003). The Economic Potential of Tourism in Tanzania. Journal of International Development, 15, 335–351.
[18] Betts, B. S. H. (2016). The Role of Tourism in the Development of Sierra Leone. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences. 26 (4), 205-224.
[19] Kongoley-MIH, P. S. (2017). Factors That Inhibit the Development of Tourism in Sierra Leone after the Rebel War. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 7, 1.
[20] Jackson, E. A., and Tamuke, E. (2020). Predicting Disaggregated Tourist Arrivals in Sierra Leone Using ARIMA Model. Theoretical and Practical Research in the Economic Fields, [S. l.], 10 (2), 132-142, https://doi.org/10.14505//tpref.v10.2(20).06.
[21] Aynalem, S., Birhanu, K., and Tesefay, S. (2016). Employment Opportunities and Challenges in Tourism and Hospitality Sectors. J Tourism Hospit 5: 257. doi: 10.4172/2167-0269.1000257.
[22] Qin, D., Xu, H., and Chung, Y. (2019). Perceived impacts of the poverty alleviation tourism policy on the poor in China. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management 41, 41–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2019.09.004.
[23] Jaafar, M., Ismail, S., and Rasoolimanesh, S. M. (2015). Perceived Social Effects of Tourism Development: A Case Study of Kinabalu National Park. Theoretical and Empirical Researchers in Urban Management. 10, 2, 2015.
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Author Information
  • College of Tourism and Cuisine, Harbin University of Commerce, Harbin City, People’s Republic of China

  • Business School, Harbin University of Commerce, Harbin City, People’s Republic of China

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    Alpha Thullah, Hongna Liu. (2020). The Socio-Economic Impacts of Tourism Development in Sierra Leone: A Pilot Study. European Business & Management, 6(6), 128-135. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ebm.20200606.11

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    Alpha Thullah; Hongna Liu. The Socio-Economic Impacts of Tourism Development in Sierra Leone: A Pilot Study. Eur. Bus. Manag. 2020, 6(6), 128-135. doi: 10.11648/j.ebm.20200606.11

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    Alpha Thullah, Hongna Liu. The Socio-Economic Impacts of Tourism Development in Sierra Leone: A Pilot Study. Eur Bus Manag. 2020;6(6):128-135. doi: 10.11648/j.ebm.20200606.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ebm.20200606.11,
      author = {Alpha Thullah and Hongna Liu},
      title = {The Socio-Economic Impacts of Tourism Development in Sierra Leone: A Pilot Study},
      journal = {European Business & Management},
      volume = {6},
      number = {6},
      pages = {128-135},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ebm.20200606.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ebm.20200606.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ebm.20200606.11},
      abstract = {Tourism is a fast-growing industry, and one of the most vital sectors that drive the economic growth of a nation. This current work investigates the socio-economic impact of tourism in Sierra Leone. Therefore, the objectives of this research are to (1) analyze the contribution of tourism to national employment and poverty alleviation (2) analyze the contribution of tourism to the local economy (3) assess the impacts of tourism on destination regions in Sierra Leone. A total of 130 respondents from different works of life are targeted for this study. Results revealed that tourism have provided employment opportunities for many people especially youths. However, the nature of employment ranged from full time to part time. Tourism has also help many locals to establish business enterprises to meet the needs and demands of tourists. This has contributed to local economic growth in most part of the country. Both positive and negative impacts of tourism were identified on this current study. The positive impacts included cultural exchange between tourists and local people, infrastructural development in tourist destination communities or areas, and local currency flow. Soaring crime rates, cultural invasion, high cost of living are some of the negative implications of tourism identified by respondents.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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    T1  - The Socio-Economic Impacts of Tourism Development in Sierra Leone: A Pilot Study
    AU  - Alpha Thullah
    AU  - Hongna Liu
    Y1  - 2020/11/27
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ebm.20200606.11
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    JF  - European Business & Management
    JO  - European Business & Management
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ebm.20200606.11
    AB  - Tourism is a fast-growing industry, and one of the most vital sectors that drive the economic growth of a nation. This current work investigates the socio-economic impact of tourism in Sierra Leone. Therefore, the objectives of this research are to (1) analyze the contribution of tourism to national employment and poverty alleviation (2) analyze the contribution of tourism to the local economy (3) assess the impacts of tourism on destination regions in Sierra Leone. A total of 130 respondents from different works of life are targeted for this study. Results revealed that tourism have provided employment opportunities for many people especially youths. However, the nature of employment ranged from full time to part time. Tourism has also help many locals to establish business enterprises to meet the needs and demands of tourists. This has contributed to local economic growth in most part of the country. Both positive and negative impacts of tourism were identified on this current study. The positive impacts included cultural exchange between tourists and local people, infrastructural development in tourist destination communities or areas, and local currency flow. Soaring crime rates, cultural invasion, high cost of living are some of the negative implications of tourism identified by respondents.
    VL  - 6
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