International Tourism: The Main Issues Affecting the Sector - Assignment Example

? International Tourism: The Main Issues Affecting the Sector By ID Number Module and Number Date of Submission International Tourism: The Main Issues Affecting the Sector Introduction Some of the important issues affecting world tourism relate to the economic repercussions from the global recession, the threat of world-wide terrorism, and the outcomes on socio-economic progress both locally and globally. International tourism is influenced positively by the increased use of electronic and other technologies, and adversely impacted by the rise in fuel prices and airline fees. Coles and Hall (2008) assert that challenges faced by international tourism include the development of a destination’s built resources, the conservation of the social, cultural, natural, and wildlife resources, and supporting the socio-economic progress of the local community. There are greater challenges to the ecology and environment of the tourism destination with increased tourist activities in developing nations. Climate change, and global warming create potential long term consequences on tourism. Conservation and protection of natural resources and wildlife habitats form an important part of the agenda. Similarly, sustainable solutions have to be undertaken to reduce the increased environmental pollution caused by growing tourist traffic. Bhatia (2006) reiterates that it is vital for authorities at the local and national levels to carry out destination planning, management, and marketing strategies, and ensure international cooperation. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to consider the main issues affecting the international tourism sector, and examine how these have challenged conventional forms of tourist activity. Tourism in Kenya will be investigated as a case study, to assess the implications of a responsible tourism agenda, and its implementation. Case Study: Kenya as an International Tourism Destination Issues and Challenges According to the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), tourism is “a vehicle for economic development and poverty alleviation (EDPA) in developing countries” (Manyara, Jones and Botterill, 2006, p.19). The strategies for economic development and poverty alleviation include small enterprise development, with the help of governmental support. In examining Kenya as a case study for international tourism development, it is primarily important to note that tourism in Kenya is foreign-owned, hence economic benefits are channelled out of the local economy. The industry focuses on safaris and coastal products, and “exploits the southern and coastal regions in an anachronistic and colonial model of tourism development” (Manyara et al, 2006, p.19). Ondicho (2000) states that the introduction of international tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa has been a recent development. In Kenya, the tourism industry is considered as a successful domain, in relation to the large numbers of visitors, and the country’s capacity to accommodate them. At the same time, although there has been considerable progress in this respect in recent years, the international tourism sector in Kenya has been limited by particular internal and external factors leading to troubles in development, and setbacks to the growth of the industry (Ondicho, 2000). To modernise conventional forms of tourism in Kenya, a new postcolonial model of tourism development “involving small indigenous enterprises, and promoting cultural products to new markets” (Manyara et al, 2006, p.19) is expected to support economic development and help in the alleviation of poverty in Kenya. The authors examined the promotion of indigenous enterprises, and the obstacles confronting tourism entrepreneurship in Kenya, utilizing for the study 12 indigenously owned Kenyan tourism enterprises and six support organisations (Manyara et al, 2006). The 12 enterprises are divided into two categories: community-based enterprises (CBEs), and formal as well as informal individually owned enterprises (IOEs). The community-based enterprises employed competent managers to enhance the enterprise’s workers’ skills, and to raise the community’s tourism awareness. At the same time, Manyara et al (2006, p.19) argue that “community tourism development is externally driven, often by nongovernmental organisations, and can be regarded as a form of neocolonialism”. Kenya’s draft National Tourism Policy promotes the development of community-based enterprises as a technique to form closer associations with tourism. Ample government funds would be required for formalizing tourism ventures in Kenya, and to finance support mechanisms to provide sustainable tourism development opportunities for Kenyan communities (Manyara et al, 2000). Similar to other developing countries, Kenya has turned to tourism as a remedy to alleviate poverty in the country. However, Irandu (2004, p.133) argues that “emphasis in Kenya has been mainly on beach and wildlife tourism, to the total exclusion of cultural tourism”. International tourism in Kenya can be increasingly developed towards contributing to the conservation of its cultural heritage. However, the cultural impacts of international tourism, are found to be both positive and negative, and are much greater at the coastal areas and in Maasailand. Using the theoretical framework of Doxey’s irritation index (irridex) it is evident that in the last stage of tourism development, the local communities may manifest hostility towards the tourists (Irandu, 2004). Contrastingly, the Maasai people’s relationship with tourists has been free of discord. According to Irandu (2004), this is due to the local community obtaining benefits from the tourism industry, through active involvement. The specific issues of international tourism that challenge Kenya can also be related to other parts of the world including the Asia Pacific region. Irandu (2004) emphasises on proper visitor management through interventions to reduce adverse cultural outcomes on local communities. The country’s national parks and game reserves are key components of its tourism industry, and they provide economic and foreign exchange benefits; while wildlife viewing and safari tourism are important sources of income and foreign exchange. Akama, Maingi, and Camar (2011) observe that in the mid-20th century, the establishment of pioneer national parks in Kenya followed colonial practices of ‘exclusion’ and ‘divide and rule’, thereby not including local communities in decision-making processes and initiation of tourism programmes and wildlife conservation initiatives. Focus was also on conflicts contributing to losses of species and habitats. Kenya’s wildlife conservation policies and safari tourism programmes have been modified over time, and “Kenya has privileged Western models of tourism development and wildlife conservation, with historic exclusion of indigenous communities still ongoing today” (Akama et al, 2011, p.281); however, some improvements have taken place. Kenya’s tourism development has inherited conventional postcolonial elements, which influence the political economy of tourism in relation to the Maasai in Kenya, producing an imbalanced power structure. The development of future tourism certification programmes and indicators related to protected areas and safari tourism are necessary. They should be based on Kenya’s postcolonial context, and take into consideration social and cultural sustainability, including “issues of inclusion, exclusion, and empowering local communities to participate directly in the management and ownership of environmental and tourism resources”, state Akama et al (2011, p.281). Ecotourism potentially provides a sustainable approach to development. Its beneficial outcomes include an appreciation of the requirement to protect and conserve natural environments, educational value to tourists regarding nature and conservation, and the further allocation of natural areas for conservation. Although ecotourism has grown substantially, Kenya has faced challenges in marketing this tourism product. The contemporary tourism industry is required to be highly innovative in the context of considerable pressure on the environment, and the “quest for benefits by communities, and an increased search for interactive experiences by visitors” (Okech, 2011, p.19). Kenya is among the African countries and other developing nations to consider tourism as the pathway for development, because it does not require expensive investment to initiate and operate as a national business. Wadawi, Bresler and Herbst, 2011) conducted a study with the aim of developing parameters for increasing the competitiveness of a tourist destination. They used a descriptive qualitative research design formulating a structured, integrated conceptual framework for hotel product/ service, which was “quality based on the normative quality expectation of the tourists and Hotel Operators’ strategic quality designs” (Wadawi et al, 2011, p.121). Information from tourist and hotel operators in two important tourist provinces of Kenya were utilized, with respect to normative and perceptive hotel product/ service quality. “Destination marketing managers employed by the only destination marketing organisation Kenya Tourist Board (KTB), were also surveyed to provide insight on Kenya’s destination marketing strategies” (Wadawi et al, 2011, p.121). Evidence from the research reveals that hotel operators and other destination management organisations have their individual vision of tourism development, and operate in their own fashion, while striving to build destination competitiveness for Kenya. It is proposed by the researchers that an integrated framework would serve to increase destination competitivenes, and would optimise the economic potential of tourism in Kenya. Conclusion This paper has investigated the main issues impacting international tourism today, identified how they challenge conventional forms of tourist activity, and examined tourism development in Kenya as a case study to evaluate its tourism development. It is evident that Kenya is striving to modernise its postcolonial model of tourism, and to maximise its potential in the areas of wildlife, safari and coastal tourism, cultural aspects and community projects, ecotourism, as well as hospitality and hotel industry. The potential for international tourism development is extensive, and the outcomes beneficial. The various challenges and issues facing tourism entrepreneurship in Kenya can be alleviated with governmental financial assistance. This will help to eliminate foreign ownership of tourism development in Kenya, and to ensure that the local communities obtain the economic benefits of the industry. For achieving enhanced social and community development, poverty alleviation, and improvements in infrastructure, the tourism industry has to provide sustainable tourism development opportunities to the local communities, and address the issues related to environmental pollution, consevation of natural resources, and protection of wildlife and their habitats. Bibliography Akama, J.S., Maingi, S. and Camar, B.A. 2011. Wildlife conservation, safari tourism and the role of tourism certification in Kenya: A postcolonial critique. Tourism Recreation Research, 36(3), pp.281-291. Bhatia, A.K. 2006. International tourism management. Edition 3. London: Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. Coles, T.E. and Hall, C.M. 2008. International business and tourism: Global issues, contemporary interactions. The United Kingdom: Routledge. Irandu, E.M. 2004. The role of tourism in the conservation of cultural heritage in Kenya. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 9(2), pp.133-150. Manyara, G., Jones, E. and Botterill, D. 2006. Tourism and poverty alleviation: The case for indigenous enterprise development in Kenya. Tourism Culture & Communication, 7(1), pp.19-37. Okech, R.N. 2011. Ecotourism development and challenges: A Kenyan experience. Tourism Analysis, 16(1), pp.19-30. Ondicho, T.G. 2000. International tourism in Kenya: Development, problems and challenges. Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review, 16(2), pp.49-70. Wadawi, J.K., Bresler, N.C. and Herbst, F.J. 2011. An assessment of hotel product quality in Kenya as a basis for building destination competitiveness. Tourism Analysis, 16(2), pp.121-135. Read More