Support for large-scale tourism infrastructure projects: porters’ reactions to the proposed cable car development on Mount Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania

A proposed cable car development on Mount Kilimanjaro could face significant opposition from porters, who are at risk of losing not only economic benefits but also their identity and standing within their communities. This study reveals that porters' risk aversion extends beyond financial concerns to include psychological, social, and political empowerment. Using a mixed-method approach grounded in Prospect theory and Weber’s Theory of Formal and Substantive Rationality, researchers analyzed how these stakeholders perceive the trade-offs associated with large-scale tourism infrastructure projects. The findings underscore the need for countries considering such developments to carefully evaluate their broader implications on stakeholders' livelihoods and social dynamics.

Chitaunga, P. S., Boley, B. B., & King, E. (2025). Support for large-scale tourism infrastructure projects: porters’ reactions to the proposed cable car development on Mount Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 34(9), 2513–2536. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2025.2588376