Multi-Criterion Optimization of Ecotourism Opportunities within Freshwater Environments: A Planning Outline for Water-Based Recreation at Lake Victoria, Kisumu County

Abstract

Water-based recreation is an ecotourism genre that attracts participation in most developed countries, but seldom cuts a niche in Kisumu County, Kenya. This paper presents synopsis of concepts from a study conducted in four beaches of Lake Victoria at the county, with the aim of demonstrating challenges and opportunities of recreational ecotourism within shore areas of the fresh water lake. To ascertain the dynamics that control recreationists’ involvement in recreationable activities at the waterfronts, a triangulation methodology was used. As such, observations were employed on environmental features at the lake shores to demonstrate their aesthetic status; confirmatory tests were performed on shore waters (beaches) to determine their quality integrity; and household survey was conducted on local communities to establish their ecological risk perceptions. Results point at poor observable status of the shores environments; adverse water pollution; and high risk perceptions. These significantly demonstrated influences against the recreational dormancy at the study sites. The authors suggest an outline of multi-criterion approaches for optimizing ecotourism opportunities within freshwater environments. These entail: management hierarchies for enhancement of recreational ecotourism; a recreational opportunity spectrum model; levels of progressive maturity for recreational ecotourism development; a dummy checklist for water pollution control; and decision trees for recreationable site location and water quality examination. Key Words: Multi-Criterion Optimization, Ecotourism Opportunities, Planning Outline, Water-Based Recreation, Shore Environments