Local participation in tourism in Igembe area, Meru district

Abstract

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.