Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
attractions to disadvantaged people improves visitors'
understanding and can contribute to community
development. People with disabilities are entitled to
expect the same access to tourist facilities as able-
bodied individuals.
FOCUS ON INDUSTRY
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM IN KENYA
Il N'gwesi Community Lodge in Kenya is
regarded as a model of sustainable tourism in the
accommodation sector. It is a community-owned
lodge run by the Laikipiak Maasai community, which
numbers around 6,000 people. All profi ts from the
lodge go back to the local community and are used
to fund schools, water supplies, health services and
cattle dips. The lodge was built using local materials,
uses solar power and is supplied with water from a
nearby natural spring. The community lodge is the
fi rst in Kenya to be entrusted with the protection of
rhinos.
Community projects
Most investment in tourism takes place for commercial
reasons - an individual or organisation hopes to make
a fi nancial return on their investment in the sector.
However, some governments undertake investment in
tourism for non-commercial reasons in order to benefi t
local communities and improve their quality of life. For
example, public investment in leisure centres, parks,
tourist information centres, transport infrastructure
and visitor attractions, may be justifi able on social if
not always commercial grounds. Some developing
countries levy tourist taxes on visitors and use the money
collected to invest directly in community projects in the
destination area. In some parts of the UK, money from
tourists is used to maintain the areas that they visit, e.g.
car parking charges are used to maintain footpaths and
dry stone walls. Nurture Lakeland (formerly the Lake
District Tourism and Conservation Partnership) is a
good example of this, raising more than £1.5 million
from visitors and tourism businesses for conservation
projects since 1996.
Weblink
Check out this website for more
information on Il N'gwesi Community
Lodge.
www.ilngwesi.com
towards more repeat business and a sustainable
tourism industry.
Education
Weblink
Check out this website for more details of
the work of Nuture Lakeland.
www.nurturelakeland.org
Education plays a signifi cant role in helping to develop
responsible tourism in destinations, particularly in
developing nations. Tourism businesses need to
understand the key issues concerning responsible
tourism in order to develop sustainable business
practices. Tourists need access to information about
their chosen destination so they can learn what actions
are needed to conserve the environment and support
local communities. Local businesses gain valuable
skills and knowledge to improve quality standards and
develop trade with tourism providers. Local people
are educated to be able to capitalise on the extra
employment opportunities that tourism brings.
Employment and training of local
people
One of the most cost-effective ways of maximising
tourism's positive impacts is to invest in education
and training of local people for employment in
tourism-related activities, e.g. in hotels and other
accommodation, tourist attractions, tour guiding,
hospitality, etc. Education and training of local people
not only helps destinations to retain more tourism
revenue in the area, but also provides visitors with
higher standards of service, thereby contributing