Ecotourism in Zanzibar and Kenya Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ecotourism in Zanzibar and Kenya - Essay ExampleEcotourism has been argued to play vital roles in salvaging some of the worlds endangered ecosystem. Proponents of the concept also believe that it provides a platform through which state or society can develop or adopt sustainable economic strategies so as to safeguard biological resources. It is worrying to point out the fact that most communities that own biological resources have been pursuing environmentally-damaging strategies. Ideally, ecotourism is accommodating in finding a compromise between preserving the ingrained environment and pursuing development. Even though some countries have successful implement this concept, others equable face a great deal of challenges. Zanzibar and Kenya are some of the few African countries that have successfully implemented ecotourism concept. This essay compares and contrasts some of the ecotourism practices that have been implemented in Zanzibar and Kenya (Honey, 1999). Similarities Creat ion of the Independent Ecotourism Society (TIES) In both Zanzibar and Kenya, The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) was formed purposely to get a tourism that is friendly to the natural environment and culture of a country. In both countries, the body has employed people who travel from one natural area to another to ascertain the genius of tourism that would conserve the environment and improves well-being of the people (Honey, 1999). The body has been working hard to change the perceptions of the tourists, create environmental awareness and explore natural environments. The sovereign body is constantly working a vast number of collaborators and supporters. In both countries, the body has attracted members from diverse cultural backgrounds. They draw knowledge from these members and utilize them as channels for spreading information about ecotourism. Ecotourisms conservation efforts and strategies (Visitors attitudes and feedback) In Zanzibar and Kenya, visitors attitudes an d feedback on ecotourism in the country is taken seriously as it is incorporated into ecotourism management tourism. The information provided by visitors helps in predicting the consequences of actions on the ecotourism experience. It is crucial for any country to take into account satisfaction of tourists and ecological-well being (Honey, 1999). The two countries have been monitoring and assessing the conditions and situations of the sites usually visited by tourists, and this has helped in the creation and protection of recreational resources for visitors. In addition, this has aid the provision of appropriate recreational experiences. Ideally, the two countries have been exploitation visitor perceptions of the likely effects of tourists to ascertain indicators of monitoring environmental conditions. For example, Kenyan government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources, has been utilizing data on visitors experience about the environmental impacts in Maasaai ma ra and Amboseli (Honey, 1999). Mainstreaming sustainable tourism principles in states policies and programs In the 1980s, tourism sector in Kenya and Zanzibar was completely unplanned. Both governments were weak in their tourist planning and regulation. In addition, they were not even able to implement some of its ecotourism projects. However, this situation changed rapidly in towards the end of 20th century. In Zanzibar, the International Workshop on Ecotourism and Environmental saving of 1994 was a turning point of the Zanzibars tourism industry. Since then, Zanzibar has mainstreamed its tourist policies and programs to integrate the policy makers to ecotourism programs. This is also happening in Kenya. This practice is implemented using ecotourism workshops and study trips (Honey, 1999). Role of NGOS and