Ecotourism in Kenya Essay

Kenya is a landlocked country in the continent of South Africa. It is surrounded by five countries. Kenya is a popular destination for patchists travelling to Africa as it mountain passs tourists camel safaris, trekking, secret plan fishing, white water rafting, ballooning, diving, wind surfing and donkey safaris. The major ecotourist attractor in Africa is sensation of the 40 matter parks in Kenya that offer an insight into the lives of animals and their home ground. Unfortunately, 70% of national parks and game reserves atomic number 18 on pastoral lands, particularly Masai land.Ecotourism is a major contributor to Kenyas economy. There are 55 000 people employed in the wildlife diligence alone. And the wildlife securities industry generates half of the countrys foreign exchange earnings. Therefore, the wildlife market is the biggest contributor to Kenyas foreign economy.Ecotourism has had both positive and ban impacts on the wildlife environment, people and economy of Ke nya. The economy, the livelihood of the people, and the maintenance of the ecosystem mystify had positive impacts on Kenya. Kenyas foreign exchange earnings are from tourism and 80% of the tourist market is drawn from wildlife. Also, the Masai brooders who inhabit bush land nitrogen of Mt Kenya have allocated 8 765 hectares of their land, (which teems with elephants, zebras, giraffes, wild cats) for wildlife conservations. The revenue from tourist stick tours then go back to the community which is use for children scholarships, maintenance, development and usual income. Therefore, the above have had a sustainable impact on tourism.Ecotourism excessively promotes sustainability of the wildlife. In Kenya, a living elephant is worth around $14 375 for every year of its life whilst the ivory from an elephant is worth about $1000. Each elephants herd earns as much as $610 000 each year. This promotes the maintenance of the elephants, minimises poaching and ensures protection of wi ldlife as well as livelihood for the people. Another area, the Serengeti Plains, is famous for the migration of wildlife. The national park attracts large numbers of tourists, who are attracted to the large migration of wilder beasts, cats and zebras. This fancy encourages travel to the area and highlights an appreciationfor the ecosystem. In all these encounters, education is a characteristic of the various tours.There have also been some blackball impacts that have affected the environment, the autochthonic population and tourists. Some of these include pollution, habitat destruction, littering and armed banditry. An example of this is the indigenous people of Masai Mara. The Masai Mara tribe have lived in harmony with the animals for over four centuries. However, when the game parks were created they were constrained to move without compensation. Revenue from this park have not mergeed proportionality to the tribes. These negative make have created a lot of conflict for the Masai Mara tribe.As documented above, ecotourism is vital for the economy, lifestyle and on going maintenance of wildlife in Kenya. What is required is a balanced approach to sustainability of ecotourism. Ecotourism in Kenya and in some(prenominal) location of the world should have minimum impact on the indigenous culture, a steady income stream and reduction on land debasement and wildlife destruction. The revenue of tourism should support the lives of the grass root people and enable them to have suitable standards of living. This will encourage their commitments to programs as they will incur the benefits of their co-operation.The specific initiatives that should be looked at include an increase in tour prices during peak season as it will generate an even flow of tourists each year. Non-motorised vehicles, such as microlight flights and hot air balloons should be used for tourists to explore the wildlife as they create no pollution. Also, the management of parks choose to be cared for by promoting campaigns and raising awareness to all tourists about the effects of littering and pollution of the fragile ecosystem.Kenya need sustainable ecotourism for its survival on the economy. Kenya needs to develop strategies that will have minimal effects on social, ethnic and the ecological environment. If the initiatives above are followed, it will ensure that the future genesis of the world will still be able to enjoy one of the last undisturbed natural environments.