Constraints to Community Participation in Tourism In Kenya: The Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary

Authors

  • Paul M. Musila Department of Tourism, Kwale County Government, Kenya
  • Bonface O. Kihima Department of Hospitality and Leisure Studies, The Technical University of Kenya

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/gaze.v12i1.35677

Keywords:

Community, conservation, constrains, tourism, Kenya, Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary

Abstract

Community Based Tourism (CBT) is among several types of tourism that have been considered sustainable and beneficial to the host populations in conservation areas. The local community participation in tourism in conservation areas is supposed to be high and its members should benefit from the tourism process. However, having been presented with opportunity to improve their livelihoods, communities are constrained in various ways and generally fail to benefit from tourism development. This study was set to investigate constraints to community participation in conservation areas. It was carried out in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary (MES) in Kwale County, Kenya, using a descriptive survey design. Data was collected using researcher administered questionnaires and oral interviews. The results indicated that lack of coordination among stakeholders; inadequate financial resources, lack of conducive environment for tourism growth, and lack of skills/knowledge were major constraints to participation. The study concludes that to address both operational and structural constraints to community participation, the national and county governments should develop policies that compel investors to honour agreements with communities, assist communities to enter into fair collaborations with investors, and provide incentives to investors in tourism.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
202
pdf
341

Downloads

Published

2021-03-13

How to Cite

Musila, P. M., & Kihima, B. O. (2021). Constraints to Community Participation in Tourism In Kenya: The Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary. The Gaze: Journal of Tourism and Hospitality, 12(1), 70–87. https://doi.org/10.3126/gaze.v12i1.35677

Issue

Section

Articles