The Economic Consequences of COVID-19 on Communities Adjacent to Protected Areas in Northern Tanzania

COVID-19 severely impacted industries worldwide, with tourism among the hardest hit. Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small-scale tourism businesses near protected areas in northern Tanzania is crucial for evaluating global crises at the community level. We collected data using questionnaires from 335 respondents to assess the impact of COVID-19 on small-scale tourism businesses and evaluate their perceptions of changes in illegal activities in protected areas. Our results showed that the cohort aged 35 to 49 years, people with acquired education, and individuals operating businesses in non-transit villages were associated with significantly higher income loss. Furthermore, our findings indicated that respondents in non-transit villages located adjacent to protected areas were more likely to report observing increased illegal activities during COVID-19. These results contribute to understanding how global crises affect local communities adjacent to protected areas.