John Thomas Mgonja

      Name: John Thomas Mgonja (PhD)

      Position:  Associate Professor

      Address: P.O.BOX 3167

      Phone: +255 768 314 906

    Email: mgonjajt@sua.ac.tz

    Research Area: Food-Tourism Linkages, Sustainable Tourism, Food  Safety, Food Quality Management,  Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.

BIOGRAPHY

I obtained my doctorate degree from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM) at Clemson University, South Carolina, USA. I received my B.Sc. in Food Science and Technology from Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania, and M.Sc. in Food Quality Management majoring in food safety and supply net-chains and traceability systems from Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

Between 1999 and 2005, I worked as a Quality Assurance Manager in food processing companies, which mainly targeted export markets essentially Europe, Japan and Israel. In 2007 I worked as a Project Manager for KWIECO/APT, a project which focused on empowering rural destitute women in Kilimanjaro region. In 2008 I worked as a research officer at Tanzania Industrial Research and Development Organisation (TIRDO).

In August, 2008, I diversified my career and transitioned to Sokoine University of Agriculture where I was employed as an assistant lecturer in the Department of Wildlife Management to do consultancies, research and teach courses related to food and tourism management. I have keen research interests in sustainable tourism development & poverty alleviation, community development, community-based tourism/ecotourism, food-tourism linkages, conservation, as well as visitors’ management.

While in Clemson, in 2014, I received an award as an outstanding Graduate Researcher at the HEHD Research Forum. In 2015, I received a Graduate Student Award of Excellence from the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION BACKGROUND

QUALIFICATION WHEN OBTAINED INSTITUTION ATTENDED
Ph.D. (Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management) (2011 – 2015) Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA.

M.Sc. (Food Quality Management)

(2005 – 2007)

Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, Netherlands

B.Sc. (Food Science and Technology)

(1994 – 1998)

Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

  

Advanced level Secondary School Certificate

(1991 – 1993)

Same Secondary School, Same, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Ordinary level Secondary school Certificate (1987 – 1990) Lyamungo secondary School, Hai, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

ACADEMIC  APPOINTMENT

  1. Associate Professor (2023 to date)
  2. Senior Lecturer (2019-2023)
  3. Lecturer (2013 -2019)
  4. Assistant Lecturer (2008-2013)

 COURSES TEACHING AT SUA

  1. BTM 103: Introduction to Hospitality Services
  2. BTM 213: Food Productions
  3. BTM 300: Tour Guiding and Interpretation Techniques
  4. BTM 304: Food and Beverages
  5. BTM 309: Catering, Restaurant and Food Management
  6. BTM 311: Research Project

PUBLICATIONS

 

  • Mgonja, J. T. (2023). Linking tourists’ visitation satisfaction, demographic, and travel characteristics. In The Routledge Handbook of Nature Based Tourism Development (pp. 349-371). Routledge.

  • Mwongoso, A. J., Sirima, A., & Mgonja, J. T. (2023). Impacts of Tourism Development on Residents’ Quality of Life: Efficacy of Community Capitals in Gateway Communities, Northern Tanzania. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 1-29.

  • Mgonja, J. T. (2023). Protected Areas and Rural Livelihood: An overview of the Mediating role of Wildlife Tourism. Studia Periegetica, 41(1).

  • Mgonja, J. T. (2023). Assessing Community Perceptions about the Contributions and Impacts of Wildlife Tourism to Rural Livelihoods: Wildlife Management Areas Perspective. Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation, 92(1), 64-81.

  • Bupamba, H. C., Kitegile, A., & Mgonja, J. T. (2023). Impacts of recreational infrastructure on rodent communities and their associated haemoparasites in Serengeti national park, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation, 92(1), 38-49.

  • Mgonja, J. T., & Uswege, D. N. (2022). Assessment of Factors Moderating Community Attitudes Towards Wildlife Tourism and Conservation: A Case of Ikona and Makao Wildlife Management Areas. Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation, 91(2), 214-233.

  • Sabuhoro, E., Wright, B. A., Munanura, I. E., Mkumbo, P., Bernhard, K. P., & Mgonja, J. T. (2022). Livelihood Security and Perceived Prevalence of Illegal Activities Threatening Mountain Gorilla Conservation in East Africa’s Virunga Landscape. Land, 11(9), 1509.

  • Alazaizeh, M. M., Jamaliah, M. M., Alzghoul, Y. A., & Mgonja, J. T. (2022). Tour Guide and Tourist Loyalty Toward Cultural Heritage Sites: A Signaling Theory Perspective. Tourism Planning & Development, 1-21.

  • Mgonja, J. T. (2022). Linking Tourists’ Visitation Satisfaction, Demographic and Travel Characteristics. In Routledge Handbook of Nature-Based Tourism Development, Taylor & Francis Group, London.

  • Mwangoso, A., Sirima, A., & Mgonja, J. T. (2021). Development of Tourism Destinations in Gateway Communities, Northern Tanzania. Journal of Tourism Quarterly, 3(4), 177-195.
  • Jamaliah, M. M., Mgonja, J. T., Alazaizeh, M. M., & Powell, R. B. (2021). How does interpretive tour guiding promote tourists’ pro-environmental behaviour? Evidence from Tanzania. Tourism Recreation Research, 1-15.

  • Mgonja, J. T. (2020). Development of tourism in Tanzania: Strengthening agriculture–tourism linkages. In Routledge Handbook of Tourism in Africa (pp. 399-416). Routledge.

  • Mgonja, J. T. (2020). Leisure and recreation in non-western societies: critical perspectives and implications for future research. World Leisure Journal, 62(3), 261-271.
  • Mgonja, J. (2020). Evaluating Leisure and Recreation Study Programmes in Training Institutions in Tanzania: Implications for Tourism Development and Destination Competitiveness. Journal of Tourism Quarterly, 2(1-2), 1-13.

  • Alazaizeh, M. M., Jamaliah, M. M., Mgonja, J. T., & Ababneh, A. (2019). Tour guide performance and sustainable visitor behavior at cultural heritage sites. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(11), 1708-1724.
  • Mgonja, J. T. (2019). The Nature of Tourism Education Programs in Developing Countries: The Case of Tanzania. Tourism Review International, 23(1-2), 13-19.
  • Martin, B. J., Rija, A. A., & Mgonja, J. T. (2019). Population Distribution, Threats and Conservation Awareness of African Clawless Otter in Mtera Dam Ecosystem, Tanzania. In Twelveth Tawiri Scientific Conference, 4th–6th December 2019, Arusha International Conference Centre, Tanzania (P. 141).
  • Kitheka, B. M., Mcguire, F. A., Nibigira, C., & Mgonja, J. T. (2017). Play and recreation in a developing country context: Assessing utility of Jardin public gardens, Bujumbura, Burundi. African Journal for Physical Activity and Health Sciences (AJPHES), 23(4), 590-607.

  • Mgonja, J. T., Sirima, A., & Mkumbo, P. J. (2017). A review of ecotourism in Tanzania: magnitude, challenges, and prospects for sustainability. Ecotourism in Sub-Saharan Africa Thirty Years of Practice (pp 170- 183). Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, London.

  • Mgonja, J. T., Backman, K. F., Backman, S. J., Moore, D.D. & Hallo, J.C. (2016). A Structural Model to Assess International Visitors’ Perceptions about Local Foods in Tanzania. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(6), 796-816.
  • Mgonja, J.T., Backman, K.F., Backman, S. J., Moore, D. & Hallo, J.C (2016). Factors Moderating and Mediating Visitors’ Perceptions about Local foods in Tanzania. Journal of Gastronomy and Tourism, 2(2), 87-106.
  • Mgonja, J.T. (2016). Local foods as an impetus for Strengthening Leisure, Recreation and Sustainable Tourism in East Africa, Asia-Pacific Journal of Innovation in Hospitality and Tourism, 5(2), 135-150.
  • Mgonja, J. T., Sirima, A., Backman, K. F., & Backman, S. J. (2015). Cultural community-based tourism in Tanzania: Lessons learned and way forward. Development Southern Africa, 32(3), 377-391.
  • Mgonja, J. T. (2015). Evaluating local food-tourism linkages as a strategy for promoting sustainable tourism and economic development: A case of Tanzania (Doctoral dissertation, Clemson University).
  • Sirima, A., & Mgonja, J. T., (2015). Tanzania, Tourism. In J. Jafari & H. Xiao (eds.), Encyclopedia of Tourism, Springer, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_1-1.http://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_238-1. ISBN 9783319013831.

  • Mgonja, J. T. & Sirima, A. (2015). What makes the ‘community’ in CBT? Reflecting on a CBT experience from Tanzania, in Novelli, M. (2015) Tourism and development in Sub-Saharan Africa: current issues and local realities Contemporary Geographies of Leisure, Tourism and Mobility. Routledge, Abingdon, UK. ISBN 9780415812344.

  • Mgonja, J. T., Luning, P., & Van der Vorst, J. G. (2013). Diagnostic model for assessing traceability system performance in fish processing plants. Journal of Food Engineering, 118 (2), 188-197.
  • Michael, M., Mgonja, J. T., & Backman, K. F. (2013). Desires of Community Participation in Tourism Development Decision Making Process: A Case Study of Barabarani, Mto Wa Mbu, Tanzania. American Journal of Tourism Research, 2(1), 84-94.

  • Mgonja, J. T. and Kussaga, J.B. (2012) Evaluation of traceability systems in fish supply chains: A case study of Tanzania, PAK. J. FOOD SCI., 22(3) 133-142 ISSN: 2226-5899.

  • Mgonja, J. T. Noe, FP, Uysal, M. & Magnini, VP (2010). Tourist Customer Service Satisfaction: An Encounter Approach. Asia-Pacific Journal of Innovation in Hospitality and Tourism APJIHT, 229.

  • Mgonja, J. T. (2007). Understanding Technological and Managerial Factors contributing on the Performance of Traceability Systems in the Fish Supply Chain, the case study of Tanzania (Doctoral dissertation, Wageningen University and Research Center).

 

SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS

Postgraduate:

  1. Mwongoso, J. Alpha – Sustainable ecotourism through partnerships between community and private investors in northern Tanzania: tourism partnership stages-approach (SUA: PhD).
  2. Betty A. Bagashe- Factors influencing repeat tourist’s choice pattern’s in Tanzania (UDOM: PhD).
  3. Irene M. Sanga – Factors Affecting Smallholder Farmers’ Digital Literacy in Increasing Agricultural Production: A Case of Muheza and Handeni Districts (SUA, MSc).
  4. Happiness C. Bupamba- Impacts of Recreational Infrastructure On Rodent Species and Their Zoonotic Haemoparasites in Serengeti National Park (SUA, MSc).

Undergraduate:

Prof. Mgonja has supervised over 70 undergraduate students in the areas of tourism, leisure, recreation

RESEARCH & CONSULTANCY

  1. Rapid Technical Evaluation of Partners’ Collaborative Engagement in Conservation, Tourism and Rangeland Management Activities in Selela Village, Monduli District, Tanzania. December, 2020

  2. Development of Benchmarks for Bachelor Degrees in Tourism and Hospitality Clusters in Tanzania (2019-2022)

  3. Threats, Awareness and Distribution Patterns of the Threatened African Clawless Otters (Aonyx capensis) in Mtera Dam, Tanzania (2018-2019).

  4. Linking biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services in the Great Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem (GSME) – drivers of change, causalities and sustainable management strategies (2016-19).

  5. Provisioning ecosystem services: A spatial analysis of incentives and constraints on food provisioning by households through illegal hunting, relative to agropastoralism grazing ecosystem reliability (2016-19).

  6. Analysing natural resource policy frameworks and evaluating options for promoting poverty alleviation objectives in the governance of ecosystem services (2016-19).

  7. Evaluating Local Food-Tourism Linkages as a Strategy for Promoting Sustainable Tourism and Economic Development in Tanzania (2015).

  8. Study on Land trusts and tourism, land trusts and volunteerism, land trusts and farmers in North and South Carolina, USA (2014).

  9. Assessment of conflicts between farmers and livestock keepers in Kilombero-Rufiji Basin, Tanzania (2010).

  10. Local community participation in tourism development decision making process: a case of mto wa mbu, Arusha, Tanzania (2009).

  11. Quality assurance inspection for portable water manufacturing. Done for Dasani brand bottled water, Dar es salaam, Tanzania (2008).

  12. Food safety and hygiene training for hotel employees. Done for Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotel, Dar es salaam, Tanzania (2008).

  13. Empowering poor, vulnerable women in the Kilimanjaro Region in Tanzania to have greater control over their lives (2007)

  14. Use of simple and appropriate technologies in developing new products for small scale food processors. Done for Tanzania Food Processors Association (TAFOPA) Tanga chapter (2005).

National and International Conferences, Workshops and Meetings Attended

  • Scientific Conferences on Transforming Agriculture and Natural Resources for Sustainable Development to Attain Industrial Economy in Tanzania. Morogoro, Tanzania. 10th to 11th April, 2019.

  • Training workshop on outcome based/demand driven curriculum design, development and review. Morogoro, Tanzania. 4th to 5th April, 2019.

  • A Consortium conference on linking biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services in the Great Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem (GSME) – drivers of change, causalities and sustainable management strategies. 26th to 30th Aug, 2018. Sparrow-Karatu. Tanzania

  • Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM): Recent Advances in Model Assessment by Prof. Dr. Marko Sarstedt. Online workshop- 26th April, 2018.

  • Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) 11th Conference. Theme: ‘People, Livestock and Climate change: Challenges for sustainable biodiversity conservation’. Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC), Arusha, Tanzania. 6th-8th Dec. 2017.

  • A Consortium conference on linking biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services in the Great Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem (GSME) – drivers of change, causalities and sustainable management strategies. 4th to 12th Feb, 2017. Lake Naivasha Country Club. Kenya.

  • Mgonja, J. T., Backman, K. F., Backman, S. J., Moore, D.D. & Hallo, J.C. (2016). A Structural Model to Assess International Visitors’ Perceptions about Local Foods in Tanzania. Paper presented at the International Conference on Sustainable Tourism in Developing Countries, 28-29 July 2016; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • Facilitator-Training of trainers (ToT) workshop for occupation health safety in Hospitality and Tourism Industry, organized by VETA, 12th to 21st December, 2016, MVTTC Morogoro.

  • A training workshop on didactics and pedagogical skills, 11th -15th October, 2015, at MIC hotel, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • A workshop on opportunities and challenges of a highway passing through Mikumi National Park, 3rd – 4th September, 2015, at Oceanic Bay Bagamoyo, Tanzania.

  • Statistics with R workshop, 10th – 14th August, 2015 at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

  • GWS (George Wright Society) conference on Parks, Protected Areas and Cultural Sites, March 29 – April 5, 2015 at Marriot Hotel-Oakland California, USA. The nexus between Tourism, Conservation and local community livelihood in northern Tanzania.

  • ICCF (International Conservation Caucus Foundation) workshop on conservation initiatives in some African Countries (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia and Zambia), April 23-25, 2015 at the Capitol Hill – Washington D.C. USA.

  • Expedition on Food safety processing facility, May 6, 2015 at Johns Island in Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

  • Agnes Sirima, Mathew Ladslaus and Mgonja, J.T. (2014). Review of Tourism Development in Tanzania. Paper presented at International Conference on Sustainable Tourism in Developing Countries, 19th – 20th June, 2014, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • Conference on the value of play – taking action; February 16th to 18th, 2014 at Madren Conference Centre- Clemson, South Carolina. U.S.A.

  • The 8th Atlas Africa conference. Theme; Africa tourism in global society: Central or peripheral? 3rd – 5th June 2013. Kigali, Rwanda.

  • Conference on the value of play – taking action; February 17th to 20th, 2013 at Madren Conference Centre- Clemson, South Carolina. U.S.A.

  • International Conference on Sustainable Tourism in Developing Countries (ICST-DC held in Zanzibar 8th -9th August, 2012

  • Time Management, motivation, and procrastination: Understanding and teaching students self-regulatory behavior. Organised by Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation (OTEI). Clemson University, U.S.A. 19th January 2012

  • Scholarship made easier: Best practices for Writing and Publishing. Organised by Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation (OTEI). Clemson University, U.S.A. 8th December 2011

  • Training workshop on Developing Tanzania’s Tourism Industry through science and technology. Organizer – UNESCO from 7th to 10th December, 2010

  • Gender sensitization workshop, Morogoro, Tanzania, 05th March, 2010

  • Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies. Dar es salaam, Tanzania,19th February, 2010

  • Training workshop on CODEX Standards and priorities for development and application of Food safety and quality standards at the national level in Tanzania. Dar es salaam, Tanzania, 2nd – 7th November 2009

  • University teaching and learning improvement program (UTLIP). Morogoro, Tanzania, 1st – 3rd December 2008

  • Improved livelihoods for the most disadvantaged workshop. Kampala, Uganda 15th – 18th April 2008

  • Traceability implementation training workshop. Dar es salaam, Tanzania, 23rd – 25th June 2008

  • Implementation of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Dar es salaam, Tanzania, 28th – 30th August 2008

  • LRQA training on ISO 22000:2005 Auditing, Wageningen, the Netherlands. 18th – 19th December, 2006