CONCEPT OF ZONING MANAGEMENT IN PROTECTED AREAS

This paper examined the concept of zoning management in protected areas. In the past 25 years, the area of land under legal protection has increased exponentially, particularly in developing countries where biodiversity is greatest. Concurrently, the mission of parks and reserves expanded significantly. By global mandates, protected areas (PAs) now are supposed to do far more than conserve biological diversity. The protected areas are now charged with improving human wellbeing and providing economic benefits across multiple scales (WPC 2003), mitigate conflict and preserve indigenous cultures. These important goals have been widely embraced in principal, but in practice they are far more difficult to achieve. Due to the promises offered by zoning to mitigate development conservation conflicts, many leading nongovernmental conservation organizations (NGOs) advocate zoning processes in protected areas. These organizations cite similar reasons for advocating zoning. While many of these NGOs promote zoning, there are concerns regarding its success. These concerns have resulted in a variety of recommended methodologies and precautionary tales from NGOs to ensure that future zoning projects learn from past experience. Zoning around large nature conservation areas is especially beneficial for vulnerable or valuable habitats on the edges of these areas. Keywords: Kenya, Management, Protected Area, Zoning

Seasonality Effects on Trends of Domestic and International Tourism: A Case of Nairobi National Park, Kenya

Tourism is a very important source for foreign revenue for Kenya, as well as the main supporter and rationale for wildlife conservation in the country.  But most of this revenue is from international tourists, which the government and stakeholders seem to invest and focus on more rather than domestic tourism.  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 in international tourists and bring stability and predictability in the industry.  This study sought to addresses reasons why domestic tourism is still low despite its importance, and suggest ways of improving it in Kenya.  The data for this study was gathered through the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) tourism records, interviews with key stakeholders and players in the industry and interviews with local communities surrounding NairobiNational Park. About 64% of all tourists for NairobiPark for the last twenty years was domestic tourism, while only 35% were international tourists.  The level of education influenced the likelihood of the community to visit the parksand appreciate its conservation contribution.  Extra disposable income, lack of free time and low education were the hindrances towards local Kenyans visiting the park.  Therefore new marketing strategies, special holiday hotel rates for Kenyans and a more friendly hospitality industry for Kenyans would increase domestic tourism, especially for protected areas in urban vicinity. Key words: Domestic tourism, international tourism, Kenya, NairobiNational Park

Factors that affect the Outcome of Outside Catering in Kenya

Outside catering involves preparing and serving food at a location away from the business. The outcome of outside catering is important to caterers both as a marketing tool and in enhancing customer satisfaction. There are many factors that determine the outcome of outside catering which this study aimed to establish. The objective of this study was to examine the contribution of human, physical and natural factors on the outcome of outside catering as well as to identify the indicators that can be used to measure the outcome of outside catering. The study employed descriptive survey research design. The target population was 150 caterers in Nairobi in Kenya. The sample size comprised 120 outside caterers. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to identify the respondents. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and presented in the form of frequency tables, percentages and graphs. The results showed that human, physical and natural factors all determine the outcome of outside catering. The findings may benefit outside caterers in understanding and hence being careful on factors that affect the outcome of outside catering. In addition caterers may use the indicators that measure outcome of outside catering to improve or know the status of their work. Keywords: Human factors, Natural factors, Outcome, Outside catering, Physical factor

Extent of Adoption of Quality Management Systems in the Hospitality and Catering Industry: A Study of Selected Establishments in Nairobi.

The aim of this research was to establish the extent of adoption of two quality management systems in selected hospitality and catering establishments in Nairobi Kenya. Survey design was used and the target population was managers in the establishments. A sample size of 120 was used. Purposive sampling was used to select the managers because adoption of the systems was assumed to be a managerial responsibility. Interview schedules and questionnaires were used to collect primary data which was analyzed using descriptive statistics. From the findings majority of the respondents had knowledge about the existence of quality management systems but had not adopted the systems because of high costs involved in its implementation and lack of information. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point system (HACCP) was preferred than Assured Safe Catering (ASC). The establishments using Quality management systems highlighted the benefits of the systems that included success in production of quality products and increased profitability. However the systems had limitations such as demanding routine of maintenance of standards and involving intense documentation. Evidently, quality management systems are relevant to the hospitality industry and need to be adopted by operators in the food handling sector   Keywords: Adoption, Assured Safe Catering, Catering, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point system, Keny

COMPATIBILITY OF MENUS TO CHILDREN’S NEEDS IN SELECTED HOTELS IN NAIROBI, KENYA

This paper examined the compatibility of hotel menus to children’s needs. The study used a survey research design. Simple random sampling was used to select the respondents from the target population. The target population comprised of hotel employees, parents and children. Data was collected using questionnaires and non-participant observations were occasionally employed to supplement the information that was captured by the questionnaire. Data was cleaned, analyzed quantitatively and presented using frequency tables and graphs. The findings revealed that many Kenyan hotels do not have identified children’s menus thus children are left to eat from adult menus which totally vary in presentation, nutrition, portion sizes and also in delivery. The population of children is therefore left without many choices as they seem to be a forgotten lot. It is therefore recommended that hotels provide foods compatible to children in terms of texture, presentation, nutrient content and color so as to encourage them to eat as well as enjoy their meals. In addition hotels should offer special feeding facilities for the children to enable them get pleasure from their feeding experience and also employ trained employees in their food production to cater for children. Key words: Children, Compatibility, Hotel, Menu, Nairobi, Keny

Dimensions of Social Capital in Trifling Event Administration in Kenya

This paper examines indicators that measure social capital in small event management undertakings. This study enhances understanding of social capital and contributes significantly to literature on by providing pragmatic knowledge. Descriptive research design was employed in the study. Sample size of 271 industrialists formed the sample size. Census sampling was used where all the event management industrialists in Nairobi, Kisumu and Uasin Gishu counties in Kenya were included in the study. Data was collected using questionnaires containing closed-ended questions. Reliability was tested using Cronbach’s alpha. Exploratory factor analysis grouped the constructs into two components namely positive exchange and sharing. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to measure the extent to which the observed variables (positive exchange and sharing) explain the unobserved variable (social capital). The results showed that both variables adequately explained social capital of event management ventures. Keywords: Event Administration; Industrialists; Trifling; Kenya; Social Capital; Factor analysis.

Hotel choice attributes and demographic characteristics of tourists in North Rift Region, Kenya.

The aim of this paper was to establish the effect of hotel choice attributes on demographic characteristics of tourists. The attributes used in this study were state of hotel facilities, helpfulness of employees, perceived value for money, perceived quality of service, accessibility of hotel and services, service delivery and physical attractiveness. The demographic characteristics in this study included gender, marital status, level of education and employment status. The study also established the significance of how previous visits made or no visit at all on the hotel choice attributes. Six hotels in three counties in Kenya (Uasin-Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo) located in the North Rift region of Kenya were selected for the study. Descriptive and causal research designs were utlized in the study. The target population comprised 240 tourists who visited the hotels, out of which only 191 structured questionnaires were returned for data analysis. Simple random sampling was used to identify the respondents. An independent sample t-test was used to test the five hypotheses. The results indicate that attributes that inform hotel choice decisions seem not to depend on all demographic characteristics. Physical attractiveness is primarily considered based on marital status, repeat guests considering the accessibility of the hotel, and physical attractiveness is also considered. These are dependent on education and employment status which appear to view quality of service and delivery of the service as crucial elements in deciding where to stay

An Analysis of the Challenges Facing Cultural Tourism Development in Kenya

Cultural tourism is the subset of tourism concerned with a country or region's culture, specifically the lifestyle of the people in those geographical areas, the history of those peoples, their art, architecture, religion(s), and other elements that helped shape their way of life. Cultural tourism includes tourism in urban areas, particularly historic or large cities and their cultural facilities such as museums and theatres. It can also include tourism in rural areas showcasing the traditions of indigenous cultural communities (i.e. festivals, rituals), and their values and lifestyle. It is generally agreed that cultural tourists spend substantially more than standard tourists do. Cultural tourism is a genre of special interest tourism based on the search for and participation in new and deep cultural experiences, whether aesthetic, intellectual, emotional, or psychological. It is important to consider, therefore, that cultural tourism may take on many forms and meet a number of tourist motivations. Cultural tourism brings together the accepted practices of research, site development, design, planning, construction, interpretation, and visitor services and connects them to the practice of tourism in marketing, research, product development, and promotion. Cultural tourism has to use accepted practice and principles, but integrate tourism planning and development practices into the process. Key Words: Cultural Tourism, development, challenges, Keny

Cooperation between the Horn of Africa and the European Union

This article outlines the causes of conflict in the Horn of Africa and the joint EU-Africa strategies undertaken by the European Union and the Horn of Africa partners to bring sustainable peace to the region

Сотрудничество ЕС со странами Африканского Рога

This article outlines the causes of conflict in the Horn of Africa and the joint EU-Africa strategies undertaken by the European Union and the Horn of Africa partners to bring sustainable peace to the region.В данной статье анализируются причины конфликтов в районе Африканского Рога, а также стратегии, предпринятые странами Евросоюза совместно с африканскими странами - партнерами стран Африканского Рога с целью сохранения устойчивого мира в регионе