socio-economic research on manda wilderness, lago district, niassa ...

Table 11 SWOT Analysis
STRENGTHS
� Success of Manda Wilderness to date
- Committed investors and volunteers
- Pioneered first lodge in Niassa Province
- Responsible tourism reputation (BA Award)
- Profitable business and growing
� Consumer Interest
- Wilderness, the destination
- Community benefit and conservation
� Funding Agency Interest
- Ford Foundation, Ireland Aid, Swedes, IFC
� Government Interest
- Supports poverty reduction and conservation
� Local Support and Growing Capacity
- Village committees, UMOJI Association
- Local partners e.g. UCA and Salt, Light and Health
Project
OPPORTUNITIES
� Tourism Growth and Increasing Demand
- More recognition as a key <strong>economic</strong> sector
- ‘Ecotourism’ fastest growing niche product
- New product development and marketing
- Development in marginal tourism areas
� Community Development
- Significant land and manpower resources
- New earning opportunities, job creation
- Small enterprise development
- Transferable skills
- Rolling out projects to remote communities
- Addressing negative livelihood impacts
- Increasing external links and influence
� Environmental Conservation
- Incentives for enhanced collective natural resource
management
- Develop forms of multiple and sustainable use
� Model of Good Practice
- FTTSA accreditation
- Dissemination of lessons learnt
- Catalyst for change in local ASL industry
WEAKNESSES
� Less Developed than Regional Competition
- Weak destination marketing
- Product quality challenges (inexperienced staff and
lodge management, food not up to standard etc.)
- Area is heavily depleted of wildlife
- Lack of local tourism certification schemes
- Trans-frontier development plans stalled
- Poor infrastructure (communications, transport,
power, medical services, retail outlets etc.)
� Manda Wilderness Capacity Issues
- Lack of staff, time and resources
- Personification of MW as ‘Mr. Patrick’
- Weak distinction between trust and business (lodge)
- Lack of capacity of local partners e.g. UCA
- No participatory monitoring and evaluation
� Community Capacity Issues
- Risk of interference from elite (chiefs)
- Limited community participation and gender issues
- Weak resource and project management
- Skills deficit and ignorance of tourism
- Lack of access to capital
� Negative Impacts on Rural Livelihoods
- Lost access to exclusive tourism area
- Reduced access to harvest natural resources
- Increased wildlife damage to staple crops
THREATS
� Downward Turn in Tourism Demand
- Insecurity, famine/flood, rise in regional competition
- Fickle consumers - destination not ‘in vogue’
� Lack of Performance in Tourism
- Business targets not met, investors withdraw
- Failure to meet responsible tourism standards
� Lack of Enabling Framework
- Lack of understanding of tourism industry
- Bureaucratic and immigration challenges
- Lack of implementation of plans, strategies
- Lack of investment in district development
- Obstruction as MW perceived as too influential
� Disillusioned Community
- Expectations not met (needs great, limited projects
and collective income)
- Inequitable benefit distribution
- Negative livelihood impacts not addressed
- Poverty persists and HIV/AIDS increases
- Tensions rise within and between communities,
Manda Wilderness and government
� Environmental Degradation
- Hunting, over-fishing and deforestation continues
� Competing Incompatible Land Uses
- Mining, agro-forestry
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