1.0 Introduction
To study the ecotourism in Kenya, this report was written. Ecotourism is a travel to protected areas that attempts to be low impact and small scale. It helps to educate the traveller, provide funds for conservation, directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, and cultivate respect for different cultures and for human rights (Honey 2008, 33). However, the concept evolved to encompass considerably more than simply “nature-based travel” to “natural” areas, with subsequent definitions including the importance of distributing environmental and socio-economic benefits to the local population (Honey 2008; Ross and Wall 1999; Epler-Wood 2002). Kenya is one of the global leaders in tourism and community-based ecotourism, working with the many local ethnic group to protect the environment and local culture. Many activities such as game-viewing safaris
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The most obvious and immediate benefits of ecotourism associated with local communities are employment opportunities and income generation for the host region. Community in Mara and Amboseli have businesses linked to tourism. Local communities can benefit from ecotourism economically if they play a greater participatory role in the tourism process. Economic empowerment is also related to a community’s access to productive resources in an area targeted by ecotourism( ). When ecotourism focuses on preservation of natural resources, economic livelihoods of local people may be threatened. However, the communities have other sources of income from ecotourism such as nursing, teaching, waiters, guides, plantation farming, bee keeping and fish industry, working for NGOs, game rangers, working for the government, small community projects, income from rent, compensations in the case of wildlife-human killings as well as businesses in the
Tourism is the world’s largest industry with nature-based ecotourism seeing rapid growth since its initial arrival in the 1980s. It is estimated by the World Tourism Organisation that nature tourism generates 7% of all international travel expenditure (Lindberg, 1997) and this figure will have increased rapidly over recent years. It’s increase in popularity is due to a number of factors; tourists becoming increasingly bored of the typical sun, sea and sand holiday’s, the increase in global awareness or environmental issues such as global
Trophy hunters often claim that their hunting produces economic and conservation benefit. Trophy hunting brings in some capital to African countries. “It makes up 1.8 percent of tourism revenues”(Schelling). The majority of tourists come to see Africa’s wildlife and nature. Come with the intention of seeing and experiencing new things. Trophy hunting major importance to conservation in Africa is creating economic incentive. “Eco-tourism on private game reserves generates more than 15 times the income of livestock or game rearing or overseas hunting” ( Kernodle). Tourism makes a lot more money than killing and destroying animal habitats. Hunting can interfere with the ecotourism by interacting and making animals upset to the point where tourists cannot view them. Keeping
Another key problem is that the economic benefit of ecotourism does not always reach the local community. One of ecotourisms main goals is to help the local community generate domestic employment and
Many people like travelling to new places. This is the reason people normally save enough money so that they can travel and have fun once in a while. You will discover that the most appropriate time for travelling is during the holidays. During the last holiday, I happened to visit Nairobi National Park in Nairobi. Ron Virmani is one of my good friends whom I treasure so much. He actually suggested the place for me because he has ever visited the place in the past. I had other alternatives but he recommended that I try visiting Nairobi National Park. I trusted him and that is the reason I did not hesitate. My experience in Nairobi National Park will always linger in my mind. Ron Virmani truly choose a good destination for me.
When it comes to the topic of ecotourism, most of us will readily agree that it is a less harmful alternative to mass-tourism and that it promotes responsible and low-impact travel to areas where flora, fauna and cultural heritage are the primary drawing power. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of what the impact of ecotourism actually is and what its long-term consequences are. Whereas some are convinced that ecotourism provides the basis for sustainable development, particularly in places that suffer from exploitation and excessive resources’ usage, and that could only improve the general conditions of the local people, others maintain that we are still far from true ecotourism, for many are those in the
Being close to them adds economic profit. Likewise, the presence of nature in public spaces and conserved destinations around them becomes a vital marketing tool for travel industry. Among safe, clean public sphere, people are encouraged to walk more, thereby offering health benefits. Furthermore, it brings communities together, provides meeting places, not only fostering social ties regardless of age, gender or ethnic origin - which have been disappearing in many urban areas but also shaping the local cultural identity.
In developing countries, many citizens define development as having a quality of life and surviving (citation 19:17). In contrast, societies in western countries often view development as a constant growth in technology, which often has negative impacts on the environment. As a result, the concept of sustainable development has been created to express new methods of evolving as a society without doing any damage to the environment (citation). In order to have economic gains in a country that practices sustainable development, it will be necessary for conservationists to promote tourism. For example, tourists often stay in resorts in Africa to admire wild predators, such as lions (citation). Although the development of resorts may have negative impacts on the environment, tourists contribute large amounts of money to the local communities. Additionally, trophy hunting serves as a reasonable form of sustainable development in countries where citizens are threatened by large predators. For example, in Tanzania, inhabitants have experienced falling victim to lion attacks (citation). Trophy hunting serves as a major form of development in Tanzania because individuals associate a numerical value with large animals (citation). This will result in an increased concern for the populations of these animals, which will promote conservation
Even though it impacts their lives, the community continues to support this industry. This may make the economic situation worse, in terms of consequences from taxes, etc. In order to assist Port Alberni’s economy, eco-tourism could be a great way to get people out to Port Alberni and for locals to find work. This could help to diversify the economy and allow people to get jobs from activities that work in tandem with conservation. It would give a natural economic incentive for people to keep the forests preserved and natural resources only used
Ever since the ability to travel over vast amounts of distances around the world became easier with the use of innovative marvels such as the aeroplane, tourism started to grow in certain countries that had enough places of interest. Africa offered much that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world; from the ancient pyramids of Giza to the spectacular wildlife migration in the Serengeti. Tourist from around the world would pay a lot of money to see and be a part of this almost untouched beauty. Thus tourism in Africa started to grow and became one of the most important sources of income for many countries. But the dilemma that we know face is whether tourism offers more benefits to the society to overcome
This gratification is then harnessed by the authors to allow them to guide the audience through the truths of the “highly regulated” Zimbabwe trophy hunting industry, and the benefits its has to the economy, exposure and wildlife sustainability in Zimbabwe. Before going in depth into how the tourism industry will never be able to replace the countries reliance on the trophy hunting industry, the authors undermine the oppositions believe that it can, allowing them to more easily persuade their audience to their opinion regarding the topic. The authors open their first argument by stating that “hunters are willing to go to remote and unstable areas” in need of their tourism that “photographic tourists are unwilling to venture,” assisting in the flow of the benefits of tourism to more swiftly reach those areas. This creates a sense of pity within the audience, for the citizens in the low tourism areas that
Ceballos-Lascurain (1993) defined ecotourism as, “Environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features - both past and present) that promotes conservation, has low negative visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations”.
Tourism in Kenya has expanded since 1963. People travel to Kenya because it is such a beautiful country and has the most spectacular wild life. I attended African
With increase in economic currency more money can be funded by the south African government to these conservation sites so that more can be expanded on. Ecotourism is often suggested as a alternative to trophy hunting but the income generated is just simply not enough to keep up with the constant deforestation of habitat and killing of wildlife in protection of livestock herds. “Well-managed trophy hunting can provide both revenue and incentives for people to conserve and restore wild populations, maintain areas of land for conservation, and protect wildlife from poaching”Adam Cruise). The maintenance of these areas can be extremely difficult because of the constant expansion of farmland
Ecotourism can be defined as trip responsible to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local residents. It should describe the journey in fragile areas where fauna, flora and cultural heritage are the main reasons to travel.
Kenya's economy is strong and gets stronger and is expending. Kenya is a good place for entrepreneurs; both native and foreign, to consider investing in. So if you are planning to start a business in Kenya, it’s important to analyze the common unsolved problems the country is facing and the various businesses plus markets operating in the country. This post will help you immensely, as it discusses the top 10 business investment opportunities in Kenya.