Managing Trade, Migration and Tourism » Sustainable Tourism in a Developing Country

Tourism in a developing country

The last lesson, Sustainable Tourism in a Developed Country, looked at the UK. The specification also asks you to know approaches in a named emerging or developing country. Here the country is Kenya in East Africa.

Remember, sustainable tourism meets the needs of visitors and local people today without spoiling the place for the future. In a developing country there is an extra problem. Many local people are poor, so tourism is a big chance to earn money. If the money leaves the country, or the wildlife is harmed, the chance is wasted.

Key terms:

• Community tourism: tourism that is owned, run or shared by local people, so that they get the jobs and the money.
• Conservancy: an area of land managed to protect wildlife, where local landowners earn money from tourism.
• Eco-rating: a scheme that checks places to stay and awards them marks for protecting nature and helping local people.

Case study: Kenya

Kenya is a developing country. Tourists come to see wildlife such as lions, elephants and zebras on safari, and to visit beaches on the Indian Ocean coast. Tourism is a major source of jobs and money for the country.

Without care, there are problems. Too many safari vehicles can crowd round animals and damage the grass. Rubbish can build up. Large hotels may be owned by companies from abroad, so much of the money leaves Kenya. Local people may lose land and get few benefits. Sustainable approaches try to solve these problems.

Approaches by individuals

• Choose community-owned places. Tourists can stay in lodges owned by local communities and pay local guides. The money goes to families who live next to the wildlife.
• Follow park rules. Visitors stay in their vehicles near big animals, do not feed wildlife and take rubbish away. This keeps animals wild and the park clean.
• Buy local goods. Buying crafts and food made by local people puts money straight into the community.

Approaches by organisations

• Conservancies in the Maasai Mara. Around the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Maasai landowners join together and lease their land to tour companies. The land is kept for wildlife and farming, and the number of beds and safari vehicles is limited. Landowners get regular rent, so they have a reason to protect wildlife rather than clear the land. This is an example of community tourism.
• Ecotourism Kenya. This organisation runs an eco-rating scheme for hotels and lodges. Places that protect nature, save water and employ local people get a higher rating. Tourists can use the rating to choose better places. For what ecotourism is, see Managing a Rainforest Sustainably.
• Conservation groups. Charities and local groups pay rangers, track wildlife and teach villagers why wildlife matters.

Approaches by government

• National parks and reserves. The Kenya Wildlife Service is the government body that looks after Kenya's national parks and reserves. It employs rangers who protect animals from poaching.
• Banning hunting. Kenya banned hunting of wild animals in 1977. This protects wildlife so that tourists can still see it.
• Entry fees. Visitors pay to enter national parks. The money helps to pay for rangers and park care.

Strengths and weaknesses

Compared with the developed country

The big difference is money. In Kenya, tourism is one of the main ways local people can earn a living, so sharing the income is a key part of being sustainable. In the UK, people already have many other jobs, so the focus is more on protecting the landscape from damage.

Exam-style question

(a) Describe one way that an organisation can make tourism more sustainable in a named developing country. [2 marks]

(b) Explain how the government has made tourism more sustainable in the same country. [4 marks]