The Socio-economic impacts of Sport Tourism in West Pokot County: Lessons from Tegla Loroupe Peace races in Kenya

The purpose of this study was to examine the socio-economic impacts of Sport tourism in West Pokot County, North Rift region of Kenya. Kenya, one of Africa’s success stories in terms of tourism development has over a long period of time relied on beach, Safari and conference tourism products; most of which are already tired and sterile (World Bank, 2010). The geographical location of these three tourist products have over time determined the distribution of tourism benefits in the country, with regions endowed with these resources benefiting from tourism, while areas with no such resources being left behind in terms of tourism benefits. However, the clarion call in Kenya for the need to diversify her tourism products has resulted in regions and destinations venturing into the development of alternative forms of tourism. One such product is sport tourism. The North Rift region, the cradle of Kenya’s athletic prowess has witnessed increase in sport related excursions, participations and involvements; and one such unique sport that has gained currency in West Pokot County is the annual Tegla Loroupe peace race. Founded by Tegla Loroupe (appearing as Tecla Lorupe in some sections of the media), a Marathon icon, Tegla Loroupe peace races has been held in the county since the year 2003 with the main aim of not only building peace among the warring pastoralist communities but also to introduce new socio-economic alternatives to pastoralism that is facing tremendous decline as a result of shrinking pasture fields, drought, animal epidemics and frequent cattle rustling. Cattle raids among the pastoralist communities have hindered development in the area and dented the region’s image before the investors who have shied away from the area. The study employed a mixed methods approach to undertake an in-depth study to examine the socio-economic impacts of sport tourism in West Pokot County. A total of 200 questionnaires administered to members of the local community out of which 154 were dully filled and returned, representing a 77% return rate. Both descriptive and inferential data analysis techniques were employed in analyzing the respondents’ feelings about the socio-economic impacts of sport tourism in the region.  The findings indicate that sport tourism is viable tool for socio-economic development and cultural transformation among communities living in rural areas such as West Pokot County.  Specifically, the study established that sport tourism has a high multiplier effect on traditional economic sectors such as agriculture, pastoralism, cultural extravaganza, local trade, arts and crafts among others. The study recommends for the creation of adequate sports infrastructure in rural and peripheral areas so as to stimulate more sport participation among the local communities. Keywords: Sport tourism; Socio-economic development; Tegla Loroupe peace races; West Pokot County

An examination of Kenya’s Outbound Tourism to Ugandan Destinations: Towards Re-thinking Kenya’s Tourism Product Development and Marketing

Kenya has placed high attention to the tourism industry as it constitutes one of her principal export sectors that not only earns her the much sought after foreign exchange but also creates employment opportunities directly and indirectly. However, Kenya’s dominant tourist products (beach and safari) are already tired, and this has substantially reduced Kenya’s competitiveness in the tourism market, (World Bank, 2010).  Kenya’s overreliance on few tourist generating countries for its tourists has placed the country’s tourism industry in jeopardy particularly when these tourist generating countries issue unexpected travel advisories. Tourism scholars and commentators alike have over time recommended the development and marketing of the country’s domestic tourism sub-sector. This study examined Kenya’s outbound tourists to Ugandan destinations with a view of understanding their characteristics, preferences, travel motivation, expenditure patterns, their duration of stay, their knowledge of Kenya’s tourist products, their information sources, the sources of their finances, and their willingness to take recreation in Kenya. The study employed mixed methods approach, where both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques were used.  The study established that: despite Uganda boasting of natural wildlife-based attractions such as the famous Gorilla conservation area, most Kenyans (94.8%) who visit Uganda are attracted by religion/faith-based, culture/heritage-based and historical/political-based attractions as well as by the African hospitality of the local Ugandan people. Few (5.2%) of Kenyans visiting Uganda are attracted by nature-based attractions. The study recommends rigorous tourism marketing in Kenya as well as harnessing the country’s rich history for tourism. Keywords: Kenya’s outbound tourism; Domestic tourism; Ugandan destinations; Tourism product development; marketing

An African dilemma : pastoralists, conservationists and tourists - reconciling conflicting issues in Kenya

Kenya is facing irreconcilable tensions by competing interests from conservationists, tourism developers and pastoralists. Concerns arising from the well-being of flora and, in particular, fauna by conservationists; tourists and commercial tourism; and the increasingly restricted use of traditional lands and herding animals by pastoralist indigenous communities, have populated the discourse of land use in Kenya. In this paper, we look into the varying perceptions of each group of stakeholders and seek to analyse the current narrative that gives priority to wildlife protection and the commercial exploitation of wildlife through high-end tourism development to the detriment of the rights and interests of pastoralism. As pastoral land becomes more appropriated, our analysis shows that the antagonistic relationship between conservationism, commercial tourism and pastoralism is likely to deteriorate. We therefore propose a more participatory model of tourism development that will allow pastoralist communities to have a voice in the process