ACoST - 2014 (Sustainability in Tourism)

Permanent URI for this collection

http://hdl.handle.net/11071/4927

Theme: Sustainability in Tourism
Venue: Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya
Dates: 23/10/2014 - 24/10/2014

Conference Topics

Community and Ecotourism entrepreneurship
Ecotourism and Biodiversity conservation
Hospitality and Tour operations for sustainable tourism
Wildlife legislation and sustainable tourism
Education for sustainable development

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 29

Community based tourism development - a framework for Kenya
(Strathmore University, 2014) Magayu, Makie
The ostensible failure of mainstream conventional tourism has led many governments of developing countries in Africa to take up alternative means of tourism development. Community based tourism (CBT) has been advocated for as the preferred mode of tourism that will serve as a key catalyst for economic regeneration and poverty eradication. Many developing countries in Africa have recognized the importance of CBT as a panacea to tourism development challenges, providing benefits to local impoverished communities. CBT is gradually gaining momentum in Kenya, a developing country, with tourism as one of its main foreign exchange earners. However, the feasibility of CBT development in Kenya remains questionable with the major hindrances and barriers that CBT is faced with. In addition, with the growing awareness of the importance of CBT, there is a need for community based conservation models and framework guidelines in Kenya and other developing countries where high levels of bio-diversity and population growth co-exist. Therefore, the aim of this research is to develop a CBT framework for Kenya, based on an analysis of selected successful initiatives across Kenya. To achieve this aim, a research analysis on selected community based tourism initiatives in Kenya was undertaken in order to establish the factors that lead to the success (and failure) of CBT initiatives. The research also obtained insights on the present nature of tourism development in Kenya, through secondary data collection. The analysis revealed that successful initiatives all share similar success factors. However, there exist political, economic, social-cultural, legal and environmental challenges that pose great hindrances to these initiatives and to community based tourism as a whole. By using this analysis, a community based tourism framework was created in order to provide best practise guidelines for tourism practitioners and stakeholders wishing to engage in community based tourism development. The main conclusions drawn were that CBT is a viable means of development for developing countries. However, for CBT to fully be exploited and for local communities to benefit from it, the hindrances to CBT must be dealt with and eradicated. However, this is a long term process where a „people centred‟ approach to CBT development should be adopted aiming at sustainability and diversity as opposed to conservation alone.
Sustainability in ecotourism with special emphasis on wildlife conservation
(Strathmore University, 2014) Rathore, Ashok
Ecotourism is carefully traveling to fragile, pristine and usually protected areas through low impact means and on a small scale. The purpose of Ecotourism is to educate the traveler, provide funds for conservation, economically benefit the local communities and encourage stronger relations between different cultures. However, due to a lack in international regulation, in many locations the wildlife is not being adequately protected. According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism companies should include the following principles to protect the host country's wildlife and environment: minimize their impact, build awareness, provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts, and provide direct financial benefits for conservation. When the principles of ecotourism are applied, then the local community benefits financially so that the conservation efforts of its wildlife and environment are funded for future protection. The principle "export" for 83 percent of developing countries is the tourism of its wildlife in their natural environment, which is the second most important source of income for the world's 40 poorest countries.
Eco-tourism as a strategy for biodiversity conservation in Rwanda
(Strathmore University, 2014) Wanyera, Francis
Biological diversity or biodiversity is a term used to describe the variety of life on Earth. It includes plants, animals and other organisms. On the other hand ecotourism has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sectors of the tourism market, influenced primarily by public demand for undegraded environments. It is a form of alternative tourism which aims to achieve economic gain through biodiversity preservation. Not only that, ecotourism represents a small segment of nature-tourism that involves travel to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas. When planned properly, ecotourism can integrate conservation of biodiversity with socio-economic development of local communities. It implies that eco-tourism can minimize or even avoid most negative effects, if properly handled, managed and controlled. There is a broad consensus amongst researchers that eco-tourism can be used as a tool of biodiversity conservation but should be fully compatible with conservation goals. The aim of the study is to determine how eco-tourism can be used as a strategy for biodiversity conservation. It is not clear if ecotourism can have significant negative impacts when poorly planned and managed including severe environmental degradation. For the case of Rwanda the problem may be attributed to factors like high population pressure which has led to over-exploitation of biodiversity, expansion of intensive agriculture, deforestation, habitat loss and wetland degradation. The case study will be Volcanoes National Park and the research methodology will involve descriptive research design as well as use of qualitative and quantitative methods together with primary and secondary data. Data collection will be by use of questionnaires, interview guide and observation. Analysis of data will be done by use of statistical and explanatory methods.
The impact of community partnership approach to water hyacinth control : a case study of Lake Victoria
(Strathmore University, 2014) Ondeng, Monica; Owiti, Fanuel
Water hyacinth is a free-floating perennial plant that can grow to a height of 3 feet. The dark green leave blades are circular to elliptical in shape attached to a spongy, inflated petiole and thick heavily branched, dark fibrous root system. Water hyacinth is a very aggressive invader forming thick mats which cover the entire surface of the lake causing oxygen depletions and hindering the multiplication of fish in the Lake. It has affected water sports, water transport and fishing in Lake Victoria. Due to water hyacinth coverage in the lake, there have been no significant water sports yet this is one of the most important tourist attractions in the region. Water transport has also been affected through the complete coverage with the green leaves of water hyacinth that have spread all over the water surface, while fishing has been greatly affected due its occupation and oxygen depletions. However, with proper community partnership approach, this menace can be turned into positive entrepreneurial activities like manufacturing of organic manure, biogas, crafting of furniture and beauty products for supply to the hospitality and tourism industry. This paper will identify various community partnership approaches that can be used to control water hyacinth from Lake Victoria, hence impacting positively to the local community both economically, socially, and environmentally within Lake Region.
Sustainability in tourism : making tourism count to communities, ecosystems and businesses
(Strathmore University, 2014) Serugo, Joseph; Akello, Jacqueline
Ecotourism is a nature based tourism which is ecologically friendly and gives benefits directly to the community. It involves learning about nature, the people and their interactions with nature. Biodiversity refers to all biological creatures- plants and animals ranging from microscopic to gigantic organisms like whales. Ecotourism became pronounced from the 1980s following disillusionment by tourists with the way tourism revenues were being used by governments which did not care about the welfare of communities adjacent to protected areas. In contrast to mass tourism, ecotourism not only protects nature but also respects and appreciates communities‟ ways of living. East African governments emphasized creation of protected areas for biodiversity conservation. Soon due to human population increase these became islands without any connectivity. Protected area systems account for only about 10% of the land and water surfaces leaving more than 75% of the biodiversity including endangered species in community lands. While legislative and policy frameworks are conducive for conservation efforts by communities, there are inadequate or no accompanying incentives. Efforts have been made with varying degrees of success in Wildlife ranching, wildlife farming, and recently Agro-tourism. The investments required in Agro and Ecotourism are not affordable by most communities who harbor biodiversity on their land while bearing the losses of crop and livestock to wild animals. Benefits are limited and take long to be realized. Ecotourism and Agro-tourism given priority by the various players is the answer for long term biodiversity conservation in East Africa.

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