Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Employment Evidence: Zanzibar Tourism Industry

Abstract

With the advent of globalization, there has been a massive surge of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows into developing countries during the past two decades. Tourism as one of the currently fast growing industries across the world is one of the few service sectors showing concrete and quantitative trading opportunities for all countries, regardless of their level of development. The objective of the study was to assess the impacts that FDI has, is having, and will have on the well-being and performance of the Zanzibar labour market. The data were collected by the use of questionnaire and interview and analysis were drawn from the tourist investors in particular those in northern and eastern coasts, and Zanzibar Stone Town. The study revealed that there are positive impacts of the foreign direct investment on employment in Zanzibar, as well as positive relationship between direct foreign investment and tourism. We recommend promoting tourism abroad, balancing of tourism and other economic sectors attracting FDI in other sectors of the economy.