Assessment of the State and Impact of Tourism Activities in Kenya

Year 2021, Volume: 14 Issue: 1, 174 - 185, 15.04.2021

Elif Gunduz , Collins Agayi

https://doi.org/10.35674/kent.822245

Abstract

Tourism plays a significant role in the economic development of Kenya. However, the development of the sector continues to face challenges arising both locally and globally. This study identifies and analyses these problems and how they impact tourism activities. The study provides a brief overview of the role of international tourism by highlighting its socio-economic, environmental, and political contributions to the development of the country. Also discussed are the sustainability issues around mass tourism and the effect it has on the environmental, social, economic, and cultural aspects of life in the host regions. The key to addressing the tourism sector performance is the understanding of the significant role the market plays. Focusing on this, the study examines emerging issues in the Kenyan tourism sector i.e. seasonality, overreliance on the international market, impacts of tourism infrastructure development on space among others, and their roles in shaping the tourism industry. It is established that overdependence on the international market exposes Kenyan tourism to global risks that could result in the collapse of the sector, thus negatively affecting the economy. To safeguard the country from external risks, the study proposes the strengthening of domestic tourism by encouraging local investors' participation in international tourism. The study also identifies the main problems related to tourism activities in Kenya including; pollution, destruction of cultural heritage, the threat to the health of both human and aquatic life, human-wildlife conflicts, less economic benefits to local communities and host nations dues to dominance by transnational corporations, social ills like drug abuse, luring of young girls into sex resulting into early pregnancy and school drop-out among other problems. The findings of this research are based on a review of previously done research literature, academic documents, government reports among other secondary and primary sources of data.

Keywords

culture, environment, heritage, pollution, sustainability, tourism

Supporting Institution

Yok

Project Number

-

Thanks

-

Kenya'da Turizmi Faaliyetlerinin Durumu ve Etkilerinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Turizm, Kenya'nın ekonomik kalkınmasında önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Bununla birlikte, sektörün gelişimi hem yerel hem de küresel olarak ortaya çıkan zorluklarla karşılaşmaya devam etmektedir. Çalışma, bu sorunları belirlemekte ve bunların turizm faaliyetlerini nasıl etkilediğini analiz etmektedir. Çalışma, turizmin ülkenin kalkınmasındaki sosyo-ekonomik, çevresel ve politik katkılarını vurgulayarak uluslararası turizmin rolüne genel bir bakış sunmaktadır. Aynı zamanda kitle turizmi etrafındaki sürdürülebilirlik konuları ve bunun ev sahibi bölgelerdeki yaşamın çevresel, sosyal, ekonomik ve kültürel yönleri üzerindeki etkisi de tartışılmaktadır. Turizm sektörü performansını değerlendirmenin anahtarı, pazardaki oynadığı önemli rolü anlamaktır. Buna odaklanan çalışma, Kenya turizm sektöründe ortaya çıkan sorunları, yani mevsimsellik, uluslararası pazara aşırı güven, turizm altyapısının geliştirilmesinin mekan üzerindeki etkileri ve turizm endüstrisini şekillendirmedeki rollerini incelemektedir. Uluslararası pazara aşırı bağımlılığın Kenya turizmini sektörün çökmesine neden olabilecek küresel risklere maruz bırakarak ekonomiyi olumsuz yönde etkilediği tespit edilmiştir. Ülkeyi dış risklerden korumak için çalışma, yerel yatırımcıların uluslararası turizme katılımını teşvik ederek iç turizmin güçlendirilmesini önermektedir. Çalışma aynı zamanda Kenya'daki turizm faaliyetleri ile ilgili temel sorunları kirlilik, kültürel mirasın tahrip edilmesi, hem insan hem de su yaşamının sağlığına yönelik tehdit, insan-yaban hayatı çatışmaları, yerel topluluklara ve ev sahibi uluslara daha az ekonomik fayda, ulus ötesi şirketlerin hakimiyetine ilişkin ücretler, uyuşturucu kullanımı gibi sosyal hastalıklar, genç kızların cezbedilmesi, erken gebelik ve diğer sorunların yanı sıra okulu bırakma ile sonuçlanan seks vb tanımlamaktadır . Bu araştırmanın bulguları, daha önce yapılmış araştırma literatürünün, akademik belgelerin ve diğer ikincil ve birincil veri kaynaklarının yanı sıra hükümet raporlarının bir incelemesine dayanmaktadır.

Keywords

Kültür, çevre, miras, kirlilik, sürdürülebilirlik, turizm

Project Number

-

References

• Agayi, C. O., & Gündüz, E. (2020). An Evaluation of Rural Tourism Potential for Rural Development in Kenya. International Journal of African and Asian Studies, 62, 35-46. doi:https://doi.org/10.7176/jaas/63-05
• Akama, J. S. (1997). Tourism development in Kenya: Problems and policy alternatives. Progress in Tourism and Hospitality Research, 3(2), 95-105.
• Akama, J. S. (2000). The efficacy of tourism as a tool for economic development in Kenya.
• Atieno, L., & Njoroge, J. M. (2018). The ecotourism metaphor and environmental sustainability in Kenya. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 18(1), 49-60.
• Bedelian, C. (2014). Conservation, tourism and pastoral livelihoods: wildlife conservancies in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. UCL (University College London)
• Buigut, S. (2018). Effect of terrorism on demand for tourism in Kenya: A comparative analysis. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 18(1), 28-37.
• Buigut, S., & Amendah, D. D. (2016). Effect of terrorism on demand for tourism in Kenya. Tourism Economics, 22(5), 928-938.
• Cannon, B. J., & Ruto Pkalya, D. (2019). Why al-Shabaab Attacks Kenya: Questioning the Narrative Paradigm. Terrorism and Political Violence, 31(4), 836-852. Carbone, F. (2017). International tourism and cultural diplomacy: A new conceptual approach towards global mutual understanding and peace through tourism. Turizam: međunarodni znanstveno-stručni časopis, 65(1), 61-74.
• Christian, M. (2016). Kenya's tourist industry and global production networks: gender, race and inequality. Global Networks, 16(1), 25-44.
• De Sausmarez, N. (2013). Challenges to Kenyan tourism since 2008: crisis management from the Kenyan tour operator perspective. Current issues in tourism, 16(7-8), 792-809.
• Dieke, P. U. (1991). Policies for tourism development in Kenya. Annals of Tourism Research, 18(2), 269-294.
• Du, D., Lew, A. A., & Ng, P. T. (2016). Tourism and economic growth. Journal of Travel Research, 55(4), 454-464.
• Fareed, Z., Meo, M. S., Zulfiqar, B., Shahzad, F., & Wang, N. (2018). Nexus of tourism, terrorism, and economic growth in Thailand: new evidence from asymmetric ARDL cointegration approach. Asia Pacific journal of tourism research, 23(12), 1129-1141.
• GOK. (2017). Kenya National Tourism Blueprint 2030. Nairobi, Kenya: Government Printer.
• GOK. (2018). Tourism Sector Performance Report 2018. Retrieved from http://ktb.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Tourism-Performance-2018-Presentation-Final2.pdf
• GOK. (2019a). Kenya National Bureau of Statistics – Economic Survey 2019. Nairobi: Government of Kenya Retrieved from https://www.theelephant.info/documents/kenya-national-bureau-of-statistics-economic-survey-2019/.
• GOK. (2019b). Tourism Sector Performance Report 2018-JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2019. Retrieved from http://www.tri.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/TOURISM-SECTOR-PERFORMANCE-REPORT-JANUARY-SEPTEMBER-2019.pdf
• GOK. (2020a). Impact of covid-19 on tourism in Kenya, the measures taken and the recovery pathways. Nairobi: Ministry of Tourism And Wildlife Retrieved from http://www.tourism.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/COVID-19-and-Travel-and-Tourism-Final-1.pdf.
• GOK. (2020b). Impact of Covid 19 on Tourism in Kenya: Measures Taken and Recovery Pathways. Nairobi: Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Retrieved from http://www.tourism.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/PRECIS-COVID-19-AND-TRAVEL-AND-TOURISM.pdf. Hoorweg, J., Foeken, D., & Obudho, R. A. (2000). Kenya Coast Handbook: Culture, resources and development in the East African littoral.
• Irandu, E. M. (2006). Sustainable tourism development on Kenya's coast: a hospitality sector view. Anatolia, 17(2), 189-209.
• Irandu, E. M. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on Travel and Tourism Industry in Kenya. Retrieved from https://uonresearch.org/blog/impact-of-covid-19-on-travel-and-tourism-industry-in-kenya/
• Irandu*, E. M. (2004). The role of tourism in the conservation of cultural heritage in Kenya. Asia Pacific journal of tourism research, 9(2), 133-150.
• Kariuki, W. K. (2018). Effects of General Elections on Room Revenues in the Hotels in Nairobi Kenya. (Science, Finance and Investment Masters), University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
• Krüger, O. (2005). The role of ecotourism in conservation: panacea or Pandora’s box? Biodiversity & Conservation, 14(3), 579-600. Kubo, A. (2004). The Sustainability of Coastal Tourism.
• Letoluo, M. L., & Wangombe, L. (2018). Exploring the Socio-economic Effects of the Community Tourism Fund to the Local Community, Maasai Mara National Reserve. Universal Journal of Management, 6(2), 51-58.
• Maingi, S. W. (2020). Case Study 6: Mainstreaming Overtourism Education for Sustainable Behavioral Change in Kenya’s Tourism Industry Context. In Overtourism (pp. 383-399): Springer.
• Manono, G., & Rotich, D. (2013). Seasonality effects on trends of domestic and international tourism: a case of Nairobi National Park, Kenya. Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 3(1), 131-139.
• Masau, P., & Prideaux, B. (2003). Sustainable tourism: A role for Kenya's hotel industry. Current issues in tourism, 6(3), 197-208.
• Mwaura, J., Umezawa, Y., Nakamura, T., & Kamau, J. (2017). Evidence of chronic anthropogenic nutrient within coastal lagoon reefs adjacent to urban and tourism centers, Kenya: A stable isotope approach. Marine pollution bulletin, 119(2), 74-86.
• Njoroge, J. M. (2014). Tourism, millennium development goals and climate change in Kenya.
• Nyamanga, O. P. (2008). The impact of tourism on the conservation of the cultural heritage in the Kenyan coast. University of Nairobi,
• Nyaupane, G. P., White, D. D., & Budruk, M. (2006). Motive-based tourist market segmentation: An application to native American cultural heritage sites in Arizona, USA. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 1(2), 81-99.
• Oduor, A. M. (2020). Livelihood impacts and governance processes of community-based wildlife conservation in Maasai Mara ecosystem, Kenya. Journal of Environmental Management, 260, 110133.
• Okuku, E., Ohowa, B., Mwangi, S., Munga, D., Kiteresi, L., Wanjeri, V., . . . Kilonzo, J. (2011). Sewage pollution in the Coastal waters of Mombasa City, Kenya: A norm Rather than an Exception. International Journal of Environmental Research, 5(4), 865-874.
• Omondi, R. K., & Ryan, C. (2017). Sex tourism: romantic safaris, prayers and witchcraft at the Kenyan coast. Tourism Management, 58, 217-227.
• Oppermann, M., & Kye-Sung, C. (1997). Tourism in developing countries: International Thomson Business Press.
• Tosun, C. (2001). Challenges of sustainable tourism development in the developing world: the case of Turkey. Tourism Management, 22(3), 289-303.
• Valle, E., & Yobesia, M. N. (2009). Economic contribution of tourism in Kenya. Tourism Analysis, 14(3), 401-414.
• Veron, J. E., Hoegh-Guldberg, O., Lenton, T. M., Lough, J. M., Obura, D. O., Pearce-Kelly, P., . . . Rogers, A. D. (2009). The coral reef crisis: The critical importance of< 350 ppm CO2. Marine pollution bulletin, 58(10), 1428-1436.
• Visser, N., & Njuguna, S. (1992). Environmental impacts of tourism on the Kenya coast. Industry and Environment, 15(3/4), 42-52.
• Weldon, K. (2013). An analysis of drug abuse along the coastal region of Kenya. International NGO journal, 8(7), 153-158.
• World-Bank. (2010). Kenya’s Tourism: Polishing the Jewel. In: The World Bank Washington, DC.
• WTTC. (2020). Kenya 2020 annual research: Key highlights. Retrieved from https://wttc.org/Research/Economic-Impact/moduleId/704/itemId/141/controller/DownloadRequest/action/QuickDownload