KENYA CASE STUDY

The attraction of Kenya

- it has an attractive climate (tropical) with sunshine all year round, hot and humid at the coast; temperate inland and dry in the NE

- Safari holidays are popular - e.g. in the Maasai Mara / Nakuru National Park - Kenya has spectacular wildlife - including the big 5 - Lion, Elephant, Rhinoceros, Leopard and Buffalo

- Cultural experience - many tourists visit local tribes such as the Maasai to find out more about their lifestyle and traditions

- Coastal Holidays - SE of Kenya has fine sands and coral reefs with spectacular marine life - e.g. Mombassa

Why have numbers of tourists visiting Kenya increased?

- Kenya was one of the first LEDC countries to acheive mass tourism and in the 1970s and 1980s there was a rapid increase in the numbers of tourists, particularly following the release of the films Born Free and Out of Africa.

- Tourist numbers have also increased as larger aircraft in the 1980s brought prices of air travel down.

Advantage Reason (why …… because) Disadvantage Reason (why …… because)

Earns valuable foreign exchange

Kenya can’t buy things it needs to develop without foreign currency. Eg: Hospitals, schools, major infrastructure and high tech equipment.

Providing the initial infrastructure is expensive.

You need some basics to start with eg: airport and some hotels and facilities, and these are very expensive, which LEDC’s like Kenya can’t easily afford. They often have to borrow money = debt.

Provides direct employment in hotels, transport, guides, wardens etc. in the Maasi Mara National Park.

Jobs = money earnt, which can then be spent in many ways locally, so stimulating the local market economy. A sort of Multiplier Effect.

Much of the profit “leaks” overseas to the developing countries.

Many hotels are ownes by foreign multinational chains eg: Hilton, Sheraton, Holiday Inn. Foreign operators arrange the holidays eg: Going Places, Thompsons and the major money spent is in the home country.

Provides indirect employment for local people.

Maasi and Kikuyu farmers can provide food for the hotels, souvenir makers and sellers, again putting more money into the local economy.

Much of the profit “leaks” overseas to the developing countries.

Some food is flown in from abroad to cater for fussy European tastes. Key positions given to foreign staff.

Attracts foreign investment in hotels, airport, roads, water/electric/sewage services.

Foreign investment = quality facilities which will attract more tourists = more money. Locals can benefit from improved infrastructure. Training provided by multinationals

Creates a dual economy Local people who live near in Mombasa , Bamburi and Malindi by may benefit from the industry and spin offs, but there are few benefits elsewhere.

Money in the local economy.

More taxes can be collected by the Kenyan goverment and spent on local developments such as hospitals and schools etc. Also a charge is made to enter the Park which goes to the Maasi tribes as an incentive and compensation for loss of land.

Environment may be put at risk

Mass tourism can cause degradation of the area. Eg: The hotels have damaged the wetlands by draining water from the swamps for swimming pools and toilet facilities. The hotels also cut timber for the tourist barbecues = deforestation.

Ensures the protection of the resources that attract tourists eg: Discourages poaching of Big Game animals and on the coast near Mombasa, the damage to coral reefs.

Competition from local farmers and poachers would seriously endanger the animals. Poachers can earn more money at less risk in the tourist trade now as a guide. Tourism provides easier money than farming in the game reserves.

Environment may be put at risk

The large number of minibuses and 4 WD’s has caused damage to vegetation and is causing soil erosion. It also scares wildlife.

Tourist money can be re-invested in creating new environmental projects.

Bamburi Cement Quarry near Mombasa has now been restored to an environmental attraction of sub-tropical forest and swamp and a sustainable commercial venture including a fish

Mass tourism has changed local cultures and traditions.

The Maasi tribe have lost their grazing rights in the National Park because tourists visiting the wild life is considered more important. Compensation is inadequate.

farm, a crocodile hatchery, sales of fruit and rice and attracts thousands of tourist visitors a year.

Local people are excluded from the Maasi Mara park conservation areas without compensation.

Without adequate compensation, there is no incentive for the Maasi to protect wildlife and so poaching is still a problem

Mass tourism has changed local cultures and traditions.

Local people now use their culture, dance and costume as a money earning entertainment so degrading their traditions.

Increasing commercialisation of tourist attractions / activities.

Things like bungee jumping, micro-light aircraft, ballooning, sale of cheap trinkets and even drugs is leading to a tacky image and this may soon be a disincentive to visitors.