Abstract
This study evaluates the socio-economic effects of tourism development on the local community in Narok County, Kenya. It uses descriptive and inferential statistics, the county wants to utilize tourism as an economic development tool to reduce poverty and increase socio-economic wellbeing. Tourism has profound effects on the local community of the destination as it brings economic and socio-cultural changes. Some of the positive economic impacts include; increased direct and indirect employment, enhanced standard of living, more investments, infrastructural development, and new business linkages and opportunities. Some of the identified negative economic impacts include, increased income disparity, increased land price and rent, price hike of essential goods and services, seasonality effects and leakage of earnings. From the findings majority of the tourism assets and well-paid jobs are enjoyed by nonlocal whereas the local community does not benefit its rightful share due to uneven benefit distribution. Major positive socio-cultural impacts include: increased women participation and empowerment, increase in the level of education, enhanced social security and safety. Some negative socio-cultural impacts are grabbing of land from the poor, increased social gap, social disorder and loss of cultural originality. The local community is involved in tourism activities but are not fully involved in the decision making process. This study reveals that the local community is not fully involved in policy formulation process and most stake holders do not consider the socio-economic impacts of tourism development on the local community. Some recommendations are made for the Development of Tourism in Narok County to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative impacts.
Highlights
Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world by a continuous increase in visitor population, high level of direct and indirect employment and billons in investments
Figure above shows how investments affect tourism with a majority of the respondents feeling dissatisfied with the huge control of tourism assets by non-locals, leakages and low paid for local people
Locals work for many hours from the construction of the camps and lounges to providing services with little remuneration and holidays, this is mainly due to the level of education of the locals and lack of clear control and regulation from the county government living the locals in the mercies of their bosses
Summary
Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world by a continuous increase in visitor population, high level of direct and indirect employment and billons in investments. According to WTTC, (2015), Travel and tourism contributed to USD 7,580bn in 2014 and is projected to increase by 3.8 pa to USD 11,381bn in 2015. It contributed to 277bn jobs, and is expected to rise up to 357bn jobs in 2025. In this current market USD 814bn and is expected to rise to USD 1,336bn in 2015. Europe, the Americas and Asia and the Pacific all recorded approximately 5% growth in 2015. Arrivals in the Middle East increased by 3% while data in Africa, albeit limited, pointed to an estimated 3% decrease. (UNWTO, 2015)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
