The Kenya Leading Tourist Attractions - Essay Example

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Developing sustainable ecotourism in Kenya xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Name xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Course xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Course instructor xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Date submitted xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Developing sustainable ecotourism in Kenya Sustainable tourism is tourism that leads to management of all resources without destroying the economic, social and aesthetic needs and maintains cultural integrity, important ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems. It is a process that satisfies the needs of a tourist and host communities while enhancing and protecting needs in the future. In this article I look at developing sustainable tourism in Kenya. Kenya is situated at the East coast of Africa and it covers an area of 586,350 Square kilometers. The largest contributor to her economy is agriculture followed by tourism. Tourism in Kenya started long before she even gained independence. Early 1930, overseas visitors and explorers started visiting Kenya mainly for big game hunting expeditions referred locally as “Safari” a Swahili word (Kieti & Akama 2005). These visitors consisted of state’s men, royalties and celebrities like Theodore Roosevelt, Queen Elizabeth II and Earnest Hemingway. By that time, Kenya was already a well developed but limited tourism infrastructure. After independence the government realized the potential that tourism carried and started upgrading the infrastructure and investing in additional facilities. It also encouraged local and international entrepreneurs to invest in the tourism and hospitality industry so as to pave way for future development of the sector. Despite the intense competition in this sector, Kenya is still one of the foremost tourist attractions because of its natural attraction comprising of wildlife in its natural habitats and spectacular beaches. The land set aside for conservation of wildlife and biodiversity is approximately 10%. Kenya has ubundant tourism resources including wildlife, beaches, excellent landscape ranging from coastal zones to high mountain peaks and deserts, a diversity of culture, archeological and historical resources spread all over the country. Kenya has parks and reserves spread all over the country to protect its wildflife. Kenya wild life Service takes care of all wildlife resources and as direct management authority in the parks while the local authority councils manage the reserves exept Samburu and Simba hills reserves that are managed by KWS. However, 75% of wildlife resources are found outside the protected area systems and therefore there is a need to work with the communities living and interacting with these wildlife conservation. The Kenya leading tourist attractions are wildlife and those offering alternative attractions are not as popular with both local and foreign visitors. As a matter of fact, the most popular parks and reserves are better known for their wildlife diversity which is the key selling point of Kenya tourism industry in general. Visitors both local and foreign always flock in parks like the Maasai Mara which is associated wit the “eighth wonder of the world”; the wild beast migration. Due to its popularity, there is an over development of tourism facilities like lodges and camping sites in and out of the park which heavily impacts the park due to increased vehicular traffic. There are informal human modifications such as many trading centers sprouting at every gate to the park or lodge. For sustainable tourism in Kenya, there is a need to diversify to other wildlife resources such as forests, birds, buses and local cultures rather than predominately relying on wildlife. To enact this, spreading of tourist’s sites that possess other natural assets is required and will reduce environmental pressure and stress on the popular wildlife destinations which is brought by high number of visitors in this sites. Opening up new areas like in western where Kakamega forest can be used and the modernization of Meru national park need to be addressed in the realization of sustainable tourism in Kenya. In Kenya, most of the tourism facilities and services are owned by the private sector. The private sector markets Kenya as a tourist destination. However, they are driven by business interests; where by some of them use wood fuel for their energy. For the realization of sustainable tourism in Kenya, there is a need to address the issues of energy demand. The private sector offering facilities and services need not use wood fuel or charcoal. This is because it affects the environment around this sites. In greater Amboseli and Maasai Mara, solar is used for lighting, heating and charging. Briquettes made from biomass waste and agricultural produce are being used for heating and cooking purposes. This results to no carbon emissions as it is experiences where charcoal and firewood are used. Moreover, firewood is popularly used in shopping centers adjacent national parks and reserves for providing heat at night and warming water. To develop sustainable tourism alternative energy sources need to be used in instead of using firewood. Moreover in areas like Mt Kenya, there are very poor waste disposal measures that leave the environment so polluted. All this problems are caused by poor management of visitors’ influx and the ecological fragility of the destinations. However, along the trails and hiking routes, education and regulatory mechanisms need to be used as a management waste disposal strategy. Kenya Safari code needs to be enforced so as to prevent littering successfully. The introduction of a fee of Ksh 500 for a plastic bag or a gunny with a promised full refund if the bag if returned full of litter at the end of expedition will act as a way of encouraging perfect waste disposal. introduction of waste disposal pits at the gates so that hikers and their guides can dispose any litter they may be having is yet another initiative for waste disposal. For a sustainable tourism in Kenya, there is a need to look at the social benefits of people around these tourist attraction sites and citizens at large. There are diverse methods used to ensure that local people benefit from tourism activities like the use of their natural and cultural resources. This also includes direct employment as security personnel in lodges and camps, guiding and hospitality services. They also benefit from the social support of developments like schools, hospitals and cattle dips in the Maasai areas. Young people benefit from training on culture and nature conservation which enhance their chances for employments in tourism industry at the local level (Sharpley 2000). For example Elerai Ecoolodge near Amboseli parks generates income for the people as an incentive for environmental and culture conservation where by the community generate income through bed fees, land rents charged to the eco lodge, visits to cultural “manyatta” ( a Maasai house made of mad) and the sale of handicrafts made by women (Weaver & Opperman 2000). Kenyan coast is another tourist attraction sites, there is a variety of diving sites offering underwater cliffs, wrecks, caves, canyons and spectacular coral reefs. It is estimated that 66% of the tourism expenditure takes place in coast province. This therefore states that coast is the tourist resort in Kenya (ROK 2003). Overcrowding by tourists and boats physically damages the coral reef. Many hotels along the beach are not connected to the maniple sewage system, thus draining their waste into the Indian Ocean causing pollution and threatening marine life. To develop sustainable tourism, diversifying tourist Kenya tourism products should be addressed and especially the inclusion of cultural tourism. Cultural tourism enhances local participation in the tourism industry and lowering overcrowding and degradation of the national parks and reserves. In terms of cultural diversity, Kenya has many ethnic groups each with unique cultural practices and activities which when tapped and developed leads to diversified tourism products (Akama & Kieti 2006). This ethnic groups have differing culture, food, music folklore and rituals. The local communities are so much attached to their culture and they value them very much. For example, the Maasai communities have ceremonies to manhood. Many of these rich cultural practices were dying until tourists demand resulted to their revival. With incentives and funding, this cultures can be tapped and developed and be an avenue for developing a sustainable tourism in Kenya which could lead to long term benefits to both locals and benefits without destroying the cultural environment in Kenya (Sindiga 2000). Conventional tourism often destroys the environment in many ways. Introduction of other forms of tourism which have been developed recently need to be incorporate in Kenya. Eco tourism, traveling to the natural areas that conserves the environment and improve the well being of the local people can help develop sustainable tourism in Kenya (David Western 2008). If eco tourism is promoted and developed, Kenya is going to have a sustainable tourism which will be satisfying to all stakeholders (Higham & Luck 2002). For realization of sustainable tourism, infrastructure needs to be addressed. Roads linking various attraction sites need to be upgraded to all weather roads. Many times this roads are impassible causing frustration to visitors. The road to Maasai Mara is only passable when there is no rain. Once it rains the road is totally impassible causing delays. In most cases visitors end up not getting to their destinations when roads prove impassible. This results to visitors unsatisfied and feeling shortchanged of their finances. When these roads are improved, they will result to visitors’ satisfaction. Communication also needs to be upgraded. In this case there are parts of the parks and reserves that do not enjoy telephone signals. To realize sustainable tourisms perfect infrastructures need to be upgraded in Kenya so as visitors and citizens can opt to tourism. For any tourist to consider a certain place of visit, security is a major consideration. Security improvement in Kenya The government should monitors safety concerns. This is enacted funding and equipping Tourist Police Unit to carry out its responsibilities in Nairobi and all other tourist attracting sites. Aviation safety need to be upgraded I all airports to meet the international standards. In the coast and Lake Victoria and other inland waterways, all passenger boats provided to the tourists to be regulated and licensed so as to protect public safety and also provide insurance covers for the passages Conclusion Kenya has unique tourist attraction combinations ranging from tropical beaches, wildlife, scenic beauty and divers geographical landscape. Kenya habitat is famous because of its remarkable flora and world famous wildlife heritage. Kenya culture is reach wit history stretching back over 4.5 million years. Kenya can truly be developed as a destination that offers visitors both foreign and locals a variety of travel experiences. Tourism is a sector that solely depends on the destination entire resources base; human, land, water and air resources. To develop sustainable tourism the land use need to be changed. Land use activities leading to pollution including vehicle exhaust pollution which is a major health hazard in Nairobi and other developed areas, eutrophication and sedimentation of valuable ocean beaches, lakes, rivers and reservoirs must be controlled. There is a need to develop compensation procedures to pay locals for the destructions caused top them by wildlife and also to tourists who may be attacked when in the protected areas. Recognizing the human wildfire conflict shall be resolved by participatory approach at regional or sub regional level. And also ensure that sustainable use of resources and fair distribution of tourism infrastructure, services and roads, airports, information centers, communication, security are improved in all areas and in the neglected regions and localities. 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