Abstract:
Tourism is one of the world's largest and rapidly growing industries. Tourism has experienced
continued growth and diversification to-become one of the largest and fastest growing economic
sectors in the world over the past six decades. The main objective of the study was to assess
contribution of tourism attractions and employment opportunities creation in the study area. The
specific objectives were to; describe types of tourism attractions, determine benefits contributed in
tourism attractions, examine challenges faced by indigenous in accessing employment opportunities
in the study •area, and to examine means of strengthening tourism attractions activities towards
creating employment opportunities. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design whereby 384
respondents from Marangu East Ward in Moshi District were involved. Data collection techniques
were survey, key informant interviews and documentary review. Data were analyzed through
descriptive statistics where index scale was used to analyse tourist benefits, tourist demographic and
non demographic challenges. The findings of the study showed that mountain trekking, visiting
waterfalls, visiting cultural sites and safari tours were the tourism activities found in the study area,
the study also found out challenges which posed difficulties in tourism to influence employment
opportunities which were grouped into demographic and non-demographic factors that include of
security, accommodation, poor infrastructure and also social service in the tourist attraction sites. From
the findings the study concluded that tourism is a key driver of economic recovery, growth and
development through which employment opportunities are created.
