Factors Influencing Domestic Tourism for Urban and Semiurban Populations Around Nairobi National Park, Kenya

Abstract

†kenya Wildlife Service, nairobi, kenya ‡Department of tourism and tour Operations Management, Moi University-kenya, eldoret, kenya tourism is a very important source for foreign revenue for kenya. But most of this revenue is from international tourists. however, international tourists cannot always support the tourism industry, especially in years of economic, political, and social turmoil. A vibrant domestic tourism can cushion the industry from fluctuations of the international tourism market and bring stability and predictability in the industry. this study sought to address factors influencing urban and semiurban local population visitation to nairobi national Park (nnP), and suggest ways of improving it in kenya. the data for this study were gathered through semistructured interviews and discussions with communities surrounding the park. the results revealed that a significant (p < 0.001) majority (66%) of the community had visited the park. About half of the people (59%) were interested in viewing wildlife as the main recreational opportunity provided by the park. however, only less than 50% of the community had visited the park more than three times in their lifetime. the level of education influenced the likelihood of the community to visit the park and appreciate its conservation contribution. even though the lack of free time, lack of interest in wildlife, or the thinking that protected areas in kenya were meant for foreign tourists, were not hindrances to local community visiting the parks, they noted that key constraints were lack of extra disposable income, high cost of food and hospitality services inside the park for local communities, and poor marketing of parks especially targeting local kenyans hindered high visitation rates of local kenyans to protected areas. A large number (81%) of community members mentioned poor marketing as the reason for low park visits. Indeed, 96% said no form of advertisement for nnP had influenced their decision to visit. hence, there is a need for new domestic customer-oriented marketing and a more friendly hospitality services tailored to local tourists among government policy to improve the economy to release more disposable income for leisure targeting nnP and other protected areas in kenya.

Economic Contribution, Challenges and Way Forward for Wildlife-Based Tourism Industry in Eastern African Countries Moses M

“…They also lack information specific to each country on why domestic tourism has not improved as in developed nations. More research is needed in this area in Eastern Africa countries so as to have specific actions that address key constraints to domestic and regional tourism growth to compliment international tourism especially in low season and at times when for one reason or another, tourists from international markets cannot come [40].…”

“…The lands outside the parks are crucial to wildlife; they serve as dispersal areas. These areas are threatened with increasing land sub-division, agricultural expansion and unplanned development of tourist accommodation, thus increasing human-wildlife conflicts [16,19,22,40]. In Kenya for example, it is alleged that over 70 percent of the wild animals live outside official protection areas.…”

“…The first is tourism's image as a luxury export completely dependent on external mainly clientele demands on which local planners have relatively little control [17]. International tourism revenues are not always assured [6,40]. Tourism is affected by political stability, perceptions of personal safety and security, and health [17].…”

“…Most residents of Eastern Africa countries have not visited prime tourist destinations in their own countries, seen wild animals in their wild habitats or vacationed in comfort tourism destinations in their own countries [39,40]. The reasons may range from lack of disposable income, lack of free time, poor marketing to local people, foreign food types in hotels, lack of hospitable treatments of local tourists by tourism operators, lack of own transport and negative perceptions that tourist destinations are for the rich and foreign [40]. There is also a perception that local tourists are not bringing in hard foreign currency and are not big spenders, factors that increase economic importance of tourism in the economy of the countries.…”

Constraints to consumption of South Africa's national parks among the emerging domestic tourism market

“…A study on the Kafue National Park in Zambia (Thapa, 2012) found that international and domestic visitor segments indicated varying degrees of perceived constraints, with structural constraints being more common among domestic visitors. In a study on factors influencing the surrounding domestic population to visit Nairobi National Park in Kenya (Okello et al, 2012), it was found that majority (66%) of the community had visited the park. Even though the lack of free time (structural), lack of interest in wildlife (personal), or the thinking that protected areas in Kenya were meant for foreign tourists (personal), were not hindrances to local community visiting the parks, they noted that key constraints were lack of extra disposable income (structural), high cost of food and hospitality services inside the park for local communities (structural), and poor marketing of parks especially targeting local Kenyans (structural).…”