Factors Influencing Domestic Tourism for Urban and Semiurban Populations Around Nairobi National Park, Kenya

Abstract

Tourism is a very important source for foreign revenue for Kenya. But most of this revenue is from international tourists. However, international tourists cannot always support the tourism industry, especially in years of economic, political, and social turmoil. A vibrant domestic tourism can cushion the industry from fluctuations of the international tourism market and bring stability and predictability in the industry. This study sought to address factors influencing urban and semiurban local population visitation to Nairobi National Park (NNP), and suggest ways of improving it in Kenya. The data for this study were gathered through semistructured interviews and discussions with communities surrounding the park. The results revealed that a significant (p < 0.001) majority (66%) of the community had visited the park. About half of the people (59%) were interested in viewing wildlife as the main recreational opportunity provided by the park. However, only less than 50% of the community had visited the park more than three times in their lifetime. The level of education influenced the likelihood of the community to visit the park and appreciate its conservation contribution. Even though the lack of free time, lack of interest in wildlife, or the thinking that protected areas in Kenya were meant for foreign tourists, were not hindrances to local community visiting the parks, they noted that key constraints were lack of extra disposable income, high cost of food and hospitality services inside the park for local communities, and poor marketing of parks especially targeting local Kenyans hindered high visitation rates of local Kenyans to protected areas. A large number (81%) of community members mentioned poor marketing as the reason for low park visits. Indeed, 96% said no form of advertisement for NNP had influenced their decision to visit. Hence, there is a need for new domestic customer-oriented marketing and a more friendly hospitality services tailored to local tourists among government policy to improve the economy to release more disposable income for leisure targeting NNP and other protected areas in Kenya