Terrorism and Tourism: Kenyaas Resilient Tourism Industry Survival Strategies

The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of terrorism incidences on hotels in Kenya and the survival strategies used by the destination The study hypothesized that there was no significant relationship between the respondent s work experience and their opinion on the effect of terror attacks It also hypothesized that there was no significant difference between the respondent s gender and their emotional reactions to a terror attack Qualitative data was collected through interviews while quantitative data was collected using researcher administered questionnaires A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed from which 138 were successfully completed The study noted that although there was a weak positive correlation between respondents work experience and opinions on the effect of the terror attacks to their business this relationship was insignificant at p 0 05 r 0 04 p 0 273 meaning work experience had little influence Likewise 41 of male strongly agreed that they were traumatized as they continued with their duties as compared to 51 of female respondents The finding indicated that gender did not influence their feelings U 1923 P 0 37 Majority of the respondents 64 agreed that it had taken more time to achieve short-term goals while a 64 of them strongly agreed that it had taken longer time than anticipated for the hotel to achieve short and medium-term goals More than 65 agreed that their long-term goals have been affected and 71 of them have had their companies adjust their marketing strategies to cope with the changing environment From these findings the author concluded that security incidences have affected short medium and long term goals of most hotels in Keny

Influences on the uptake of covenant mechanisms for nature conservation on private lands in Australia

Globally management agreements have emerged as more effective in assuring long-term nature conservation on private land, than regulatory mechanisms alone. Restrictive permanent covenants in particular, which are legally binding management agreements in perpetuity, have been adopted in most States and Territories in Australia. However, there is reluctance among landholders to take them up. Sound understanding of the factors that influence the decisions of landholders regarding the uptake of permanent covenants is important in planning and strategizing for increased covenant uptake. The aim of this thesis is to further this understanding and to support the design of a coordinated covenant mechanism for nature conservation on private lands in Australia. This thesis postulated that the decision of landholders regarding the uptake of permanent covenants could be explained within the theoretical framework of landholders’ adoption of land and agricultural conservation practices and technologies. Three self-administered questionnaires were employed in this study through mail surveys on three groups of landholders in two Australian States (Victoria and Western Australia): one for permanent covenant holders, another for fixed-term agreement and fixed-term covenant holders in Victoria and Western Australia respectively, and another for non-holders of covenant or agreement holders in both States. Data, both qualitative and quantitative were collected on demographics, social-economics, landholders’ attitudes, and property characteristics. The data analysis included frequency distributions and proportions, analysis of variance, multivariate regression path analysis, and content analysis of written views of landholders on incentives and disincentives for covenant uptake. Landholders’ decisions regarding uptake of a permanent covenant are influenced directly, and/or indirectly by several interactive factors categorised into five non-mutually exclusive constructs: landholders’ confidence in permanent covenant mechanisms, nature conservation ethic, outlook on property rights, level of economic dependence o the property, and nature conservation equity. In both States, there is lack of comprehensive knowledge about permanent covenant, leading to negative perceptions about the purpose, intentions, and ability of permanent covenants to deliver the desired outcomes, and these affect landholders’ confidence in permanent covenants. In addition, misconceptions and misunderstanding abound on the rights attached to private property and the relationship between these rights and permanent covenants. Furthermore, policy measures to compensate for loss of landholders perceived property rights are likely to induce relatively similar measure of response to permanent covenant uptake among all landholder categories. There is a need for clarification of the allotment of property rights over biological resources that have a public good on private property among the different claimants. Voluntary uptake of management agreements mostly attracts the landholders who are least economically dependent on their property and those who have a high conservation ethic and appreciation of conservation values on their property. The presence of the economic dependent category of landholders justifies the use of financial incentives to motivate their uptake of permanent covenants. Recent amendments to the taxation law to address loss in land value are likely to have disproportionate magnitude of impact of conservation policy on different landholder groups, confirming the need for a pre-implementation policy impact assessment on the relevant landholder groups. There is risk of comprehensive policy framework for nature conservation on private land to address the complex issues that affect private conservation efforts. Development of incentive measures that ensure sustained motivation to conserve nature and a gradual shift from compensatory approaches to stewardship support measures are necessary. In views of the trans-generation and transferability of land, programs that promote a nature conservation ethic need to move beyond current landowners to potential future ones. Extension programs can address perceived disadvantages to, and losses to be incurred by landholders caused by, taking up a permanent covenant. Extension programs and policies that clarify the connection between biodiversity on private land, landowners’ goals and aspirations, and the link between human wellbeing and the healthy maintenance of the environment can encourage a value and ethic for nature conservation and in turn motivate the uptake of permanent covenants and land stewardship. Clarification to landholders of the importance of the biodiversity on a specific property to the overall regional and national biodiversity plans and needs, and the importance and value of a specific landholder’s contribution to conserving biodiversity are necessary to motivate the uptake of permanent covenants

A review of landholder motivations and determinants for participation in conservation covenanting programmes

Conservation covenants (or easements) are flexible but legally enforceable documents attached to a land title restricting the use of that land, providing for the protection of important conservation values, while allowing the landholder to retain possession. Given the attractiveness of covenants to those who seek to expand national and regional nature conservation initiatives, it is important to understand landholder motivations for participation in programmes that covenant for nature conservation. This paper examines the likely influences on landholder decision making when it comes to conservation initiatives. A review of literature highlights key motivations and determinants, such as landholder demographics and the nature of the land tenure in question, their knowledge and awareness of the programme, financial circumstances, and perceptions of financial and other risks and benefits of the programme itself, including incentives and compensation. Underpinning, or mediating, the decision-making processes will be landholder philosophies and values, and five constructs are determined from the review, namely economic dependence on property, private property rights, confidence in perpetual covenant mechanisms, nature conservation equity and nature conservation ethic. Using these constructs, a series of explicit hypotheses is drawn, applicable to agencies dealing with conservation covenants and testable through an adaptive management approach. A conceptual model is presented to show hypothesized relationships between motivational factors and the five constructs that will lead to the uptake of covenants by landholders, providing direction for policy makers and managers of incentive programmes for nature conservation on private lands

Wildlife Watching and Tourism: Effect of Two-Way Radio Communication on Wildlife in Kenya

The two- way a radio has been used by safari guides as a communication tool between themselves and the office incase of emergencies while in the wilderness. Initially only a few large tour wholesalers were licensed to own some frequencies. This has now changed and most of the tour operators use the radio to differentiate their transport product. The use of these radios is no longer limited to emergencies but used as a tool to communicate with drivers on the location wildlife in the park, bringing about overcrowding and noise pollution among others. The study sought to evaluate the drivers’ awareness and perception on how the use of the two-way radio affects wildlife and the customers. The study adopted an exploratory design with a combination of both qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings indicated that the driver guides are not aware of the effects of the two-way radio on the wildlife and customer experience. The study recommends that driver guides should be trained on the impacts of the two-way radio on wildlife and the environment and the policy on the two-way radio acquisition and usage should be put in place to guide the driver guides. Keywords: Two-way radio, safari guide, perception, awareness, game drive

Wildlife Watching and Tourism: Effect of Two-Way Radio Communication on Wildlife in Kenya

The two- way a radio has been used by safari guides as a communication tool between themselves and the office incase of emergencies while in the wilderness. Initially only a few large tour wholesalers were licensed to own some frequencies. This has now changed and most of the tour operators use the radio to differentiate their transport product. The use of these radios is no longer limited to emergencies but used as a tool to communicate with drivers on the location wildlife in the park, bringing about overcrowding and noise pollution among others. The study sought to evaluate the drivers’ awareness and perception on how the use of the two-way radio affects wildlife and the customers. The study adopted an exploratory design with a combination of both qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings indicated that the driver guides are not aware of the effects of the two-way radio on the wildlife and customer experience. The study recommends that driver guides should be trained on the impacts of the two-way radio on wildlife and the environment and the policy on the two-way radio acquisition and usage should be put in place to guide the driver guides. Keywords: Two-way radio, safari guide, perception, awareness, game drive

ANALYSIS OF THE SKILLS GAP IN TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN KENYA

Most training institutions in Kenya have supply led training instead of demand-driven training thereby creating a supply of graduates whose knowledge and skills in not needed in the industry thereby creating a training gap between the educators and the industry. This paper aims to analyze the skills gap in the tourism and hospitality industry in Kenya. The objectives were to investigate the skills gap between tourism and hospitality graduates and industry expectations, examine the stakeholder's opinion on performance university graduates as compared to graduates from Technical and Vocational Education Training institutes and examine the emerging trends in human labour in tourism and hospitality that educators should anticipate. The sample size was 200 respondents composed of managers and supervisors from 2 stars to 5 stars rating hotels. Data was collected using questionnaires and interviews. It was found that the training institution applies supply-driven training instead of demand-driven thereby creating a  shortage of adequately trained and skilled staff suitable for the tourism job market. The study recommends the involvement of educators and industry practitioners in the training resource persons and enforcement of the National Qualification Framework to ensure standardized curriculum contents in training institutions

Analysis of Impacts of Land Use Changes in Kitengela Conservation Area on Migratory Wildlife of Nairobi National Park, Kenya

Nairobi National Park (NNP) in Kenya was established in 1946 to conserve the abundance and diversity of wildlife in the Kitengela-Athi-Kaputei plains, from excessive exploitation. It is currently fenced except on the Kitengela side across the Mbagathi River due to the sub-division of the group ranches, which commenced in the 1980s, limiting access of wildlife to the migratory corridor and dispersal areas. This paper is based on a study conducted to assess the impacts of the resultant land use changes in the Kitengela dispersal area/ migratory corridor on the migratory fauna of NNP, and to identify appropriate mitigation measures. The findings indicated that increased human settlement, led to changes in land uses which resulted into multiple negative impacts on the migratory wildlife of Nairobi National Park, mainly due to loss of dispersal area and blockage of migratory routes, leading to wildlife confinement, decreased wildlife tolerance and increased incidences of human wildlife conflicts. Data analysis indicated decline in migratory wildlife population thus negative effect (F=, 6.066, p<0.05). The findings also indicated that loss of migratory routes/dispersal area and reduced vegetation cover was regarded by 55% of the local community respondents as one of the main consequences of the land use changes resulting from the subdivision of the group ranches leading to decreased wildlife tolerance (β = 0.246) and wildlife confinement (β = 0.371) in NNP (p= 0.021, < 0.05, F= 2.678; R=0.179, R2= 0.032). The paper also discusses the mitigation measures for the longtime sustainability of the park, the dispersal area and migratory corridor, including holistic implementation of the Kitengela-Isinya-Kipeto Local Physical Development Plan, mapping and protection of the vital wildlife areas within the migratory range, including the wildebeest calving area in North Kaputiei

Training of employees in the tourism and hospitality industry through a refresher courses model.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of employee’s demography on demand for refresher course training and employees ‘post- training expectations. The study hypothesized that employees age, gender, marital status, education, terms of employment, and work experience influence their decision on whether to participate in refresher training or not, and also the employees post- training expectations. The study design was exploratory and triangulated both qualitative and quantitative research methods. A total of a total of 500 questionnaires were distributed from which 414 were completed and returned, giving a response rate of 83%. A cluster sampling method was used. The target population was employees working in three, four and five star hotels located in five towns in Kenya. The study noted that there was positive correlation between the respondents’marital status (rs = 3.00, N (385), p < 0.007), levels of education (rs=0.098, N (414), p=0.046), and work experience (χ 2= 23.285, df=8, p<0.003) and their expectations upon completion of refresher courses. These expectations include enhanced productivity, greater economic and financial reward, and reduction in fear of being retrenched during the low seasons.The study concludes that training institutions should consider employees’ demographic attributes as they develop any refresher course training and recommends continuous training for the industry to meet the growing demand based on tourism increases