The ethical and local resident perspectives of slum tourism in Kenya

Abstract

Slum  tourism  is  relatively  a  new  phenomenon  which  has  generated  a  considerable  body  of  reactions  from  many  commentators.    Nevertheless,  there  are  numerous  research  gaps  within  the   existing   literature,   especially   on   slum   residents’   attitudes   towards   its   development,   its  ethical  acceptability  and  the  level  of  benefits  accrued.    This  paper  examines  the  attitudes  of  Kibera  slum  residents  towards  the  development  of  slum  tourism.  Semi-­‐‑structured  interviews  and   questionnaires   were   used   to   collect   data   from   13   key   informants   and   200   heads   of  households  respectively.  The  research  findings  reveal  that  the  residents  of  Kibera  slums  hold  negative  attitudes  towards  slum  tourism  as  evidenced  by   low  rating  of  the  positive  impact  statements   (Overall   mean=2.43)   and   higher   rating   of   negative   impact   statements   (Overall  mean=3.413).   Both   intrinsic   factors   and   external   factors,   including   the   level   of   benefits   and  social  impacts  of  slum  tourism  were  found  to  shape  the  attitudes  of  the  residents.

Keywords

• Benefits,  Ethical  acceptability,  Kibera  Slum,  Residents  attitudes,  Slum  tourism