The Effect of Electioneering Process on the Tourism Industry – a Study of Tourist Arrivals in Kenya

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to gain deeper understanding of the effect of electioneering process on tourist arrivals in Kenya. It is within public domain that tourism is an immense contributor to Kenya’s economy and it is touted to be the acme foreign exchange earner after agriculture and horticulture respectively. But of recent it has experienced a downward trend due to insecurity in the country following issuance of travel advisories by major tourist source markets. Specifically, the study analyzed the effect of election campaign period; voting pattern; andthe relationship of election results on tourist arrivals in Kenya. This study adopted a descriptive research design whereby it targeted travel agents, tour operators, Ministry of Tourism (MoT), hotel and allied workers, Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA); Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO); Kenya Tourism Board (KTB); and airline personnel. The study used 150 respondents as a sample size. A questionnaire was employed as a data collection instrument. The data collected was coded and analyzed with aid of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 23.0). The analysis revealed that majority of the respondents agreed that election campaigns affects movement of people within the country, voting pattern has no effect on movement of people within the country, it is risky to travel a few days before and after the general elections, and that voting and announcement of the results causes’ tension, and there is a likelihood of violence after the release of the results. From the findings of the study it was concluded that election campaign period and election results negatively influence tourist arrivals in Kenya. In addition voting pattern has no effect on tourist arrivals in Kenya.