Assessment of the Factors Inhibiting Avitourism Growth in Arabuko Sokoke Forest in Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2200/aerj.v5i2.267Keywords:
Avitourism, Bird Diversity, Arabuko Sokoke Forest, Birds Conservation and Bird Watching InhibitorsAbstract
Avitourism is currently one of the fastest growing sub sectors of ecotourism. In fact, it has the potential of contributing substantial income to the local economy in areas with high bird diversity. Arabuko Sokoke forest (ASF) is a promising bird life destination in Kenya with avitourism potential. However, its development and growth has not been achieved to the desired standards. This paper sought to assess factors that inhibit avitourism growth and development. Mixed research design was used were both quantitative and qualitative data were collected by use of a questionnaire and focus group discussion. The study sampled 353 respondents in four locations within Kilifi County and data was collected. The collected data was analyzed descriptively. About (26.0%) of the local community around Arabuko Sokoke forest are involved in avitourism activities thus contributing towards their livelihoods. However, major avitourism inhibitors in the study area included pollution and poor garbage and sewage disposal (69%), low support from government institutions (48%), corruption and embezzlement of local natural resources (62%) and low adoption and use of avitourism technologies (72%). Additionally, inadequacy of avitourism tools of trade, lack of avitourism policy, lack of requisite guiding trainings and disturbance of avitourism habitats were mentioned. Though Arabuko Sokoke has a potential, the development of avitourism activities and programs as well as avitourism policy to guide its growth and awareness campaign strategies should be initiated. This campaign should target and train the local community and other stakeholders on the value and importance of avitourism as an emerging high value form of tourism.
References
Arabuko Sokoke Forest Management Team (2002). Tropical forest budget line, contract B-7 5041/95- 07/VIII.
Balala, N. (2019). ‘Kenya's tourism in a crisis’ The Standard 25/09/21. Financial Journal, 5.
Barasa, F. M., Kiragu, B. M., Bennun, L. A., Evans, M. I., & Fishpool, L. D. C. (2010). Tracking Trends in key sites for biodiversity; a case study using important bird areas in Kenya. Bird Conservation International 20 (3):215-230.
Biggs, D., Turpie, J., Fabricious, C., & Spenceley, A. (2011). The Value of avitourism for Conservation and Job Creation – An analysis from South Africa Conservation Society. 9, 80-90
Bird-life International (2014). Record Funds for Cuban Wilderness Project document Accessed 16 March 2014. URL http://www.bird-life.net/news/pritem_display.csm2NewRecI.
Bird-life South Africa (2009). Avitourism Mission and Policy, Johannesburg: bird-life South Africa http://www.bird-life.org.za/pg15370/Avitourism.
Booth, J., Gaston, K., Evans, K., & Armsworth, P. (2011). The value of species rarity in biodiversity recreation: a birdwatching example. Biol Conserv 144:2728–2732.
Buckley, R. C. (2014). Environmental Impacts of Ecotourism. Cambridge: CAB International
Butler, R. (2012). Birdwatching and fifty years of change on a small island, on the edge of something big. Christchurch, N.Z.: Lincoln University.
Coetzee, H., Nell, W., & Van Resberg, L. (2014). An exploration of cultural beliefs and practices across the Southern Ground Hornbill range in Africa. J Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine 10, 28 https://doi.org.1186/1746-4269-10-28
Conradie, N., & Van Z., C. (2013). Agreement of International avitourist Market to ecotourism principles. A South African Development Perspective. African Journal of business management 7(30), 3013-3021.
Connell, J. (2009). Bird watching, twitching and tourism: towards an Australian perspective. Aust Geogr 40 :203–217. https: //doi.0rg/10.1080/00049180902964942.
Edwards, P. E. T., Parsons G. R., & Myers, K. H. (2011). The economic value of viewing migratory shorebirds on the Delaware Bay: an application of the single site travel cost model using on-site data. Hum Dimens Wild 16:435–444. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2011.608180.
Fujikura, R. (2011). Environmental Policy in Japan: Progress and Challenges after the Era of Industrial Pollution. Environmental Policy and Governance. 21. 10.1002/eet.579.
Glowinski, S. L. (2008). Bird-watching, ecotourism, and economic development: a review of the evidence. Appl Res Econ Dev 5: 65–77. International Forum on Sustainability (pp 43-50). Budapest: Arisztotelész Publishing Co.
Ikiara, M. M. (2003). Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Technological Transfer and Poverty Alleviation: Africa’s Hopes and Dilemma. ATPS Special Paper Series No. 16.
Jackson, M. (2018). Sustainability of avian ecotourism. In G. N. Editor & I. H. Editor (Eds.), A Kenya Tourism Board (2017). Ktb.go.ke.
Kenya Wildlife Service (2013). Arabuko Sokoke Forest Elephant Conservation Action Plan (2013-2023).
Kabii, F., Okello, M. M., & Kipruto, N. (2017). Effects of tour guides training on their performance in
Kenya. Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management, 5(6), 233-250.
Kiragu, M., Butchart, S. H. M., Munyekenye, F. B. Bennun, L. A. Evans, M. I, Fishpool, L. D. C., Kanyanya, E., Madindou, I, Machekele, J. Matiku, P. Mulwa, R., Negara, A., Siele, J., & Stattersfield, A. J.
(2011). Tracking trends in key sites for bio diversity: A case study using Important Bird Areas in Kenya. Birds conserve. Int.
Kiss, A. (2014). Is community based ecotourism a good use of biodiversity conservation funds? Trends in Ecology and Evolution 19: 232-237.
Lee, C. K, Lee, J. H, Mjelde, J. W, Scott, D., & Kim, T. K. (2009) Assessing the economic value of a public bird watching interpretative service using a contingent valuation method. Int J Tour Res 11:583–593.
Li, F., Zhou, Q., & Yang, Z. (2013). Birding Tourism Development in Sichuan, China. Tourism Economies 19 (2) 257-273.
Mayaka, M., & Akama, J. S. (2007). Systems approach to tourism training and education: The Kenyan case study. Tourism Management, 27(1).
McIntyre, O. (2019). Environmental protection and the ecosystem approach. In Research handbook on international water law. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Nicolene, C., & Van, Z., C. (2013). Agreement of the international avitourists market to ecotourism principles: A South African development perspective. African Journal of Business Management. 7. 3013-3021. 10.5897/AJBM12.1200 of the Tourism Agenda, Natural Resource Perspective (51), 2017.
Sanderson, S. (2005). Poverty and conservation. The new century’s peasant question? World Development 33: 282-289.
Simango, S. S. (2011). The Evolution Structure and Market (Unpublished Master Thesis) University of Witwatersrand South Africa
