Heritage Tourism, Youth Livelihoods, and Conservation Governance in Zanzibar Stone Town: A Longitudinal Analysis (2000–2026)

A significant but precarious reliance on tourism for youth incomes is evident in Zanzibar Stone Town, with over 60% of surveyed youth deriving primary income from the sector. This longitudinal analysis (2000–2026) reveals a persistent gap between formal conservation policy and informal economic practices, particularly among youth-led cultural enterprises operating at the margins of regulations. The study highlights adaptive but often unsustainable livelihood strategies that both challenge and sustain the heritage landscape. To address this, the research proposes integrating youth-led informal enterprises into formal conservation and business development frameworks, co-designing capacity-building programmes with youth stakeholders, and reforming governance structures to enable more participatory decision-making. The analysis employs a mixed-methods case study design, synthesising policy analysis, structured surveys of youth involved in the tourism economy, and in-depth interviews with key stakeholders.

Moloi, N. (2017). Heritage Tourism, Youth Livelihoods, and Conservation Governance in Zanzibar Stone Town: A Longitudinal Analysis (2000–2026). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.18943765