Impacts of ecotourism on host communities in Kenya and Zanzibar - Case Study Example

Impacts of ecotourism on host communities in Kenya and Zanzibar

It is therefore important to understand the effects of ecotourism on the host communities. The impacts of ecotourism on host communities can be positive or negative. Ecotourism aims at conserving the environment while at the same time enhances the wellbeing of people. Tourism results in increased economic development for host countries. Tourism brings more revenue and enhances local business for instance hotels, tour guides and transport. In Kenya, ecotourism result in economic benefits for the local people. However, ecotourism in Kenya still faces many challenges. In Zanzibar, ecotourism results in both social and economic benefits to the local communities. Ecotourism forces villagers and townspeople to sell their property to tourism investors. Tourism investors do not guarantee villagers any profit sharing or any other form of benefit. This increases poverty levels in Zanzibar. The negative effects of ecotourism on local communities are very high especially for communities near beaches and along the coast where the tourism business booms. The tourism business also resulted in competition for services in Zanzibar (Honey, 1999, p. 287). Competition for water is a major concern for local communities in Zanzibar. Tourism development also results in the displacement of people from their land to pave way for development of hotels and other tourism structures.