Local participation in tourism in Igembe area, Meru district
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Date
1988Author
Ndereba, Francis Mbae
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The study examines the nature and level of participation
in tourism in Igembe area of Meru District. It is based
on the realization that effective tourism would be founded
on greater participation of people and organizations of
tourist attraction resource areas in tourism, especially
in the sharing of benefits from the industry and in
conservation and management of the resources.
The organizations, communities and personalities in the
study area are examined in relation to their contribution
to tourism in the area. It has been observed that the
organizations, communities and persons of the study area
have very little participation in tourism although it is
-an area that has been important for tourism for almost a
century. Most gains from tourism are appropriated mainly
by organizations from' outside the study area. The area
receives little indirect benefits from the sale of
commoditie of the Game lodges and Meru National Park
staff. It is indeed a case of marginalization of tourist
attraction area in sharing of benefits arising from
touristic activities within it.
The study,has found also that although the area has great
potential diversification of tourist attraction resources
only wild game resource is currently effectively used for
tourism. Even then the resource is compromised by several
activities, such as poaching and pastoralism of the local
communities. Thot has been due to failure to incorporate
development of tourism in study area's development
endeavours and also put non-touristic uses of wild game
resource to an end.
Landscape and socio-cultural resources in the area have
not been exploited for tourism although their touristic
potential is very high. They are not conserved and
managed for the purpose of diversification of tourism in
the area.
The experiences are however not unique to the study area.
They' are observeable in tourism industry in the whole of
Kenya. They are traced mainly on the limited scope of
tourism development policy that the country has per sued
for about 90 years. The policy and practices have not
only limited tourism development on wildgame resources but
have marginalised areas where tourism is practised both in
the sharing of benefits of tourism and in conservation and
management of tourist attraction resources.
The consequence has been apathy among communities and
organizations"towards tourism in their areas. Infact
that would greatly explain conflict between tourist
attraction resources and alternative land/resource uses
in study area and elsewhere. It is a great threat to
tourism and has to be checked to have higher present and
future benefits from tourism in the study area and elsewhere.
Remedies to the present and future problems in tourism are
seen to come along through greater involvement of
communities and organizations of the study area in tourism.
Indeed it is through local participation in tourism that
the experiences that compromise tourism in the area and
in the whole of Kenya can effectively be combatted.
Citation
Master of arts in PlanningPublisher
University of Nairobi Department of Urban and Regional Planning