Alternative models of community tourism: balancing economic development and the aspirations of the poor

Abstract

While the World Tourism Organization asserts the potential of tourism for poverty alleviation, real- life scenarios on the ground do not necessarily provide supporting evidence for such an assertion. The anachronistic nature of current models of tourism development in Kenya, for example, do not address the key issues of poverty reduction as the poor do not derive significant benefits from tourism activity, either through employment or participation in community tourism initiatives. This study of two alternative models of community involvement in tourism development in the Samburu-Laikipia region of Kenya gives voice to the poor and develops a rich understanding of their aspirations for tourism development and their involvement in it. The study uses ethnographic techniques to uncover local people’s attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and values as well as the unspoken cultural patterns that shape their behavior and livelihood practices. Moreover, it explores the local people’s understanding of tourism and their perceptions of how poverty alleviation through tourism development could impact their lives.