The Effects of Nature Tourism as a Development Strategy on Poverty and Inequality

Project Timetable

Compile existing data sources to construct tourism orientation database at the county-equivalent geographic scale for Namibia and Mozambique in SAS (Note: Existing spatial, census, and household survey data were collected for both countries in 2007)
Using tourism orientation database, map spatial relationship between tourism orientation, poverty, inequality, and other indicators of well-being
Conduct preliminary site visits and complete case study site selection in Namibia and Mozambique
Construct and conduct preliminary estimation of spatial econometric regression models
Develop and teach one new graduate-level course at UF

Design semi-structured household survey questionnaire, key informant questionnaire, and focus group activities using existing literature, findings from preliminary case study site visits, and findings from Year 1 mapping and regression analysis
Train Namibian and Mozambican university students to conduct surveys, key informant interviews, and focus groups
Pilot household surveys, interviews, and focus group activities in pilot villages
Refine household surveys, interviews, and focus group activities based on pilot results
Conduct household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus groups in case study sites in Namibia and Mozambique
Implement improvements to previously developed graduate course

Enter and code survey, interview, and focus group data into database using QSR N6
Conduct content analysis of qualitative data
Use findings from content analysis to refine spatial econometric models; analyze results
Construct and estimate hierarchical linear model (HLM) using content analysis qualitative findings to guide explanatory variable selection; analyze model results
Develop and teach one new undergraduate-level course at UF

Carry out follow-up site visits in Namibia and Mozambique to present intermediary results from Years 2 and 3 to case study villages and get feedback
Conduct follow-up surveys, interviews, and focus group activities to measure changes in tourism-related impacts since initial data collection in Year 2 (Note: The World Cup will be held in South Africa in June-July 2010 and is predicted to dramatically increase tourism in Mozambique and Namibia the summer of that year)
Enter data collected during follow-up site visits in QSR N6 database; analyze results
Use community feedback to refine spatial econometric and HLM models; analyze results
Collaborate on rural development modules for use in Namibian and Mozambican introductory and intermediate geography courses

Development of baseline and potential tourism and rural development scenarios
Hold workshop in US with Namibian, Mozambican, and UF colleagues to discuss final analysis and directions for future work
Preparation of co-authored book based on project results