Analysis of Mombasa as a Tourist Destination - Case Study Example

Analysis of Mombasa as a Tourist Destination Name: Tutor: Course: Date: Introduction Kenya is one of the developing African countries that have become popular to visitors from North America, Europe and Asia and a tourist destination of choice. The Kenyan government has invested heavily in tourism related activities such as road network, airports, national parks, communities and handicrafts. More than 6 percent of the tourists arriving from outside Africa visit Kenya to experience the diversity of wildlife, people and environment (Bachmann, 1988). Majority of the visitors come for holiday while some are on transit while others fly in for business reasons. Mombasa has the higher concentration of tourists visiting Eastern Africa owing to well developed infrastructure and hospitality facilities. It is in the coastal area of Kenya and is the second largest city in the country with more than 500,000 residents (GoK, 2013). Major attraction sites are the coral reef, marine reserves, warm Indian Ocean beach fronts, Fort Jesus, Kilindini harbor and Likoni ferry. The people have diverse origins and rich culture spanning 900 years of interaction. Mombasa as a Kenyan Tourist Destination Source: Google 2014 Figure 1: Position of Mombasa in the Map of Kenya, and the Diani resort in South Coast, Mombasa Features of the Natural Environment The Mombasa Marine Park and Fort Jesus are major natural attraction sites in Mombasa. The marine park strikes with pristine beauty covering 4 square miles and a 77 square mile extension of the national reserve. Divers snorkeling between 30 and 1000 feet can come into contact with the barrier coral reefs which are multi-colored, smooth and sandy bottoms hosting a variety of marine life. Some of the fish variety viewed from glass bottom boat or by divers are barracuda, sharks, snappers, tuna and turtles (GoK, 2013). Tourists can experience the beautiful shells and underwater caves in the crystal clear waters. Fort Jesus is an historical experience dating back to the Portuguese military fortification and conquest of Mombasa Island in 1590s. It was built between 1593 and 1596 and is currently a UNESCO heritage site covering 2.36 hectares. Tourists experience the military architectural theory of the Portuguese and the cultural interchange of the Persian, Turkish, African, European and Arab people in their quest to control the strategic port (Sinclair, 1990). The Mombasa Society Mombasa is a multicultural island thus a melting pot of diverse cultures such as African, Asian, European and Arab with greater representation of the later. Swahili is the dominant language and traditions are pegged on songs, taboos and practices rooted in the Mijikenda, the nine African tribes of the Kenyan coastal communities. They are welcoming and social people who practice Muslim and Christian traditions (Government of Kenya, 2013). Majority of the coastal women wear vitenge, a combination of sheeted clothing and men dress in casual shorts or t-shirts. They also wear open shoes and sandals owing to hot humid climate with seasonal rains. The common greeting is ‘Hujambo’ meaning ‘Hello’ and the reply is ‘Sijambo’ meaning ‘I am fine’ which is mostly a handshake. Children respect their elders and the old are viewed as source of knowledge and wisdom passed from ancestors (GoK, 2013). Cultural Diversity and source of Livelihood Swahili which is the predominant language is a fusion of African and Arab languages through age old intermarriages. The common ethnic groups are Arab, Swahili, Mijikenda, Indian, European and other African tribes in smaller proportions. The language is Swahili which is also the Kenyan official language. Swahili is also the official and business language of the neighboring country, Tanzania (Sinclair, 1990). Islam has quickly expanded and influenced the hinterland given its dominance within the Island. One will be awakened by the early morning, afternoon and evening prayers called by Imams through loudspeakers mounted on top of the mosques. The people eat in open spaces and food is served on a tray placed on a mat (Government of Kenya, 2013). More than five floor seated people can eat on the same tray after washing their hands given that cutlery is not commonly used. The preferred food ingredients are rice, spaghetti, fish, coconut soup, beef and potatoes. Fishing industry is more prevalent source of income for the coastal communities which are fairly developed. Most resorts and restaurants serve crocodile, octopus, tuna, shark and turtle meals with awesome taste and spicy coloration (Sinclair, 1990). Others sources of income are trade in tourist ornaments, souvenirs, wildlife trophies (though regulated), salt and pepper. History and Heritage Heritage is the natural or cultural inheritance from the past which consists of intangible and tangible attributes of a people and their environment passed from past generations. Mombasa has a rich history and is the oldest town in Kenya developed initially by the Omani Arabs more than 1000 years ago (Government of Kenya, 2013). A section of Mombasa called the Old Town is a reflection of the Persian architectural designs with narrow streets and is inhabited by mostly the Arabian communities. Mashimoni caves dating back to the 17th century Arab slave trade is evidenced by an interconnection of underground caves used to transport slaves to the Middle East (Sinclair, 1990). Fort Jesus, Haller Park in Bamburi, Public beaches, Arabuko Sokoke National park and Mwaluganje elephant sanctuary are a great attraction. Others are Mombasa art gallery, Jain temple, Rabai Museum and Ngomongo themed villages (GoK, 2013). The Krapf Memorial Rabai Museum is an amazing collection of the travails and experiences of Ludwig Krapf, one of the early missionaries to East Africa in mid 19th century. Fort Jesus is also a UNESCO heritage site of more than 600 years and houses some of the historical marine ballistic launchers and architecture (Government of Kenya, 2013). How Mombasa became a Tourist Destination Mombasa became a tourist destination after the Kenyan government deliberately established national parks and marine parks around the town in a bid to increase revenue collection. Some of the parks are Shimba Hills game reserve, Tsavo National Park, Msunguti Marine Park and Haller Park (Sinclair, 1990). Visitors visiting such places had to stay in Mombasa as it provides beautiful beach fronts, ample climate and exciting night life. The location of Mombasa as a regional harbor has promoted sea transport as many European and North American tourists on cruise ships disembark in the town before proceeding to India and Far East. There are direct flights from Europe to Mombasa which makes it an international tourist destination on its own right (Graburn, 1983). Tourist Motivation Motivation is the intrinsic or extrinsic reason that informs the decision to choose one destination over another and is influenced by attributes governing the behavior. Motivation theory provides the basis of understanding the innate desires, needs and expectations of tourists visiting a certain region (Hu & Ritchie, 1993). As mentioned in some part of this report, most visitors coming to Mombasa are on holiday which means that they chose the region as their tourist destination. Cohen (1979: 189) and McKean (1093:183) argue that people have a desire adventure and seek to understand the how people in other societies live. People easily compare cultures and would want to correlate or distinguish the difference in cultures and appreciate their heritage learned in their historical classes (Sinclair, 1990). For example, a young Portuguese tourist visiting Mombasa would want to associate the military fortification of Fort Jesus with the conquest of their forefathers while an American tourist would love to see how other people live and conduct their daily lives. On the other hand, Graburn (1983: 21) asserts that people seek ritual inversion to satisfy a need that goes contrary to their daily routines. For example, while in Mombasa Kenya, tourists can experience a greeting from strangers in the streets or join street dances which are not a commonplace in their countries. They can also wine and dine the fresh traditional food of vegetable and fish not found in the daily dishes (McClanahan et al. 2005). Push factors are internal forces mainly intrinsic desires or intangibles possessed by individual travelers. Some of the push factors are regression, social interaction, escape, relaxation, kinship-enhancement and self-exploratory. Tourists visiting Mombasa save some part of their income to spend on holiday. Mostly from urbanized societies, they contact tour operators in their countries who have attractive packages for the destination, during their paid holiday or annual holiday breaks (Sindiga, 2000). The origin of most of the tourists is developed countries like Europe, Australasia, North America and Far East which have superior healthcare systems, longer life span and an enhanced pension or retirement schemes. In 2001, 63 percent of the visitors to Mombasa came from Europe, 7 percent from North America, 5 percent from Asia and 15 percent came from Africa (Economic Survey, 2002). There are long haul travels connecting these countries to Mombasa on direct flights that have made the destination a favorite around the world. Most resorts in Mombasa have a faster and reliable internet connectivity where prospective visitors can log in and make reservations or bookings. The labor laws of most of these source countries allow employees to take breaks after months of hard work. Domestic tourists are the middle class Kenyan citizens who prefer visiting during Christmas holidays to experience the tourist attractions and public beaches (Scheyvens, 2002). Pull factors emerge as perceived by travelers from the attractiveness of the destination. These factors are based on the perceptions of the traveler, tangible resources and visitor expectations such as destination marketed image, benefit expectation and novelty. Some of the pull factors are unique cultural attractions like Swahili homesteads, pristine tropical beaches like Nyali and Mtwapa, unique wildlife attractions such as Mpunguti marine sanctuary and pleasant coastal climate. Cultural diversity also ‘pull’ tourists interested to learn and experience other cultures (Roe & Khanya, 2001). Accommodation and travel arrangements are highly developed and allows one to maximize the duration of stay. Tourists visiting Kenya come from other continents and from within the country. For local tourists, they access Mombasa by road and local flights while international tourists take long haul flights and cruise ships. Mombasa is not an expensive town as one finds cheap accommodation for budget visitors within town and expensive hotels at the beach fronts. Kenyan currency is weak compared to countries originating international tourists except some African countries (Roe & Khanya, 2001). The government and tour agency have well organized dance groups, parties, guides and planners to keep the tourist trips on course. Except for limited piracy in the Indian Ocean and religious radicals, the town is safe and with low crime rates. In early 2014, the British government had issued a travel advisory to its citizens regarding terrorist activities but Australia did not provide any alert or caution. Merchandize for Tourists Tourists can buy art designs and souvenirs sold at the shops and malls within town and suburban areas. Some of the clothing fabrics are Kitenge, Khanga and Kikois while in Kikambala one can buy Spices, clothing material, beadwork paintings and wood carvings made of soapstone. Some of these items may be expensive when sold at the beaches but cheaper within the city (Sinclair, 1990). Sandals made from used car tyres are also sold alongside the Maasai beads within collections of many other souvenirs along Fort Jesus. Impacts of Tourism on the Kenyan Coastal Society Tourism has had far reaching effects on the coastal communities living around Mombasa than any other part of Kenya. Impacts theory or the central place theory provides that presence of tourists in a certain region brings about economic, socio-cultural and environmental benefits and disadvantages. Economic impact of tourism in Mombasa has been the direct boost to the revenue collection by the republic of Kenya department of tourism (McCabe, 2000). More direct jobs have been created in the hotels and resorts, supplies, trade in souvenirs, tour guides and air or road transportation. Good road networks to Mombasa and other neighboring towns have been enhanced (GoK, 2013). On the contrary, it has increased the level of prostitution, human trafficking and back street currency transfers. Since many investors in the resorts and five star hotels are foreigners, and the profit are not felt in the local market economy (McKean, 1989). Socio-cultural impacts include the loose of Swahili identity as many have started imitating the western culture. The presence of tourists has given many coastal communities the reason to retain some of their practices which are of great experience to tourists such as the men only visit to Kaya forests of Kilifi. Commodification of culture has brought greater value while the respect to the Mijikenda elders has waned due to influence of international tourists (Kenya Government, 2002). Environmental impacts include the damage of boats and tourist ships on the Great Barrier Reef, disposal of non-biodegradable waste on the beaches and pollution from beach hotels. Overfishing in the Indian Ocean to meet the demand of hotels has lead to endangering of species like octopuses and barracuda. Presence of huge number of people at the beaches disturbs the natural habitats of fish and other marine mammals (McKean, 1989). Accommodation and transportation available to tourists Hotels and resorts are the predominant type of accommodation to tourists ranging from five to two star hotels, campsites, guest houses and stay with relatives or friends. Most hotels offer bed and breakfast and most tourist would prefer to stay in villas or themed villages situated at the outskirts of Mombasa Island (GoK, 2013). Boats are common means to navigate the beaches up to the Great Barrier Reef while tourist hotels have their own travel guides and vehicles to get tourists around. One can take camel rides along the shores and local public service vehicles when moving within the Island (Republic of Kenya, 2006). Gastronomical Experiences Food to the tourists is sourced from the local markets or supermarkets and may include vegetables, beef, fish, chicken and beverages. Hygiene is of paramount importance to hotels in Mombasa and tourists are drawn by the freshness of food and great fine dining experience of the coastal waitresses (Roe & Khanya, 2001). Drinking water is mainly the bottled mineral water while the cuisine is mainly the local bottled beers and whisky. Tourist Promotion and Ethics Marketing and promoting Mombasa as tourist destination has been through tourist trade fairs in Europe and America, sale of t-shirts during international games and sports, running adverts on Kenyan televisions stations to attract domestic tourists and the internet to advertise Mombasa on the international market (Government of Kenya, 2013). One can access pictures, hotels, resorts and beaches on the Kenya department of tourism website. Promotions are done to ensure respect for local communities’ way of life and not to portray them as having primitive or backward lifestyles. Advertising also takes due respect to children and families by paying attention to age and religious beliefs of the local people (McClanahan et al. 2005). Interpretation Interpretation helps in learning on the various attractions of the destination through signs, posters, visitor centres and guide books by explaining the aspects of the population. In Mombasa, the postcard portrays the cultural ceremonies or traditional headdresses adorn most of the gift shops in Mombasa town (Government of Kenya, 2013). These photographs and descriptions of the ethnic Swahili women given the false impression that they are available for exploration by tourists have intensified the dysfunctional cultural impacts. However, this notion has slowly been changed by the integration of the market driven economic systems and the indigenous communities (Akama, 2004). Brochure Fort Jesus: Built by the Portuguese in 1593 and overlooks the Indian Ocean. Experience the UNESCO heritage site with military and scientific collections in the art gallery inside the fort. Mashimoni Caves: Cultural and explorative tourists find the 19th century underground slave routes stunning and exciting to study. Elements of geographical and historical learning points are feasible and interesting. Where to Stay: Diani Beach hotel in the south coast is refreshing and attractive. White Sands Hotel allows visitors to have a glimpse of the first morning sun on the Island. Conclusion Mombasa provides a break-taking and a rich collection of historical artifacts and experiences to cultural and explorative tourists. Known for diverse culture and animal life, the town is by no measure the richest in wildlife and national heritage of its people. Despite the terrorist and piracy activities within and along the Kenyan ocean frontiers, tourists have been thronging the beaches to explore the natural phenomena and engage in the life styles of the Swahili speaking coastal communities (Sinclair, 1990). The town has rich slave trade history and a critical fort for Portuguese explorers. Tourist numbers have been growing as greater infrastructural and urban development have raised the level of investment in tourist related attractions (Bachmann, 1988). Kenyan government has continued to embrace ecotourism and increased the level of funding to infrastructural projects that support delivery of tourist numbers. Reference list Akama JS 1997, Tourism development in Kenya: Problems and policy alternatives. Progress in Tourism and Hospitality Research 3 (2), 95–105. Akama JS 2004, Neo-colonialism, dependency and external control of Africa’s tourism industry. In C.M. Hall and H. Tucker (eds) Tourism and Post-colonialism. 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