News

Coast Regional Training Workshop for the Community-Based Tourism Enterprises

Article by Francis Omondi
May 2007 :

The Ecotourism Kenya Coast regional training workshop took place from 27^th to 28^th April 2007 at Kwetu Training Centre, Mtwapa. Its aim was to explore ideas for tourism involvement and introduce steps for sound tourism development planning. Ecotourism Kenya envisaged that the tool could help communities and entrepreneurs to develop their own action plans for managing tourism on their land, on jointly managed conservation areas or developing their own ideas for running a tourism enterprise. The trainings were also designed to get a good balance between looking after livelihood and community concerns and making a good business.

The training targeted Community-Based Tourism enterprise owners, entrepreneurs and investor’s. Community-based tourism (CBT) typically subscribes tourism activities that are developed and operated, for the most part, by local community members, and certainly with their consent and support. For those in government and non-governmental organizations who have long been working with communities on wildlife and natural resource management, CBT are seen as one form of sustainable utilization with potential to bring economic, as well as social benefits to communities and an incentive for conservation.

During the two days trainings, 47 participants from 33 CBT initiatives were trained on the Stepping Stones for Tourism and on the desirable elements for a successful tourism business. The participants participated in plenary sessions and group discussions. To visualize their trainings application on their enterprises, participants worked in groups and presented their Action Plans.

The participants were also trained on desirable elements of a successful tourism business. It was observed that, majority of the participant’s have product, activity or service. Key product, services and activities identified among the participating groups include Ocean/Marine ecosystems, ocean excursions, birdlife, historical sites, boat rides, wildlife species, curios, artifacts, local dishes, and local culture. However, it was noted that majority of the participants were engaged in businesses without registering them as business entities. Similarly, participants were involved in doing business without understanding issues of advance bookings, and local channels for their products, services and activities. We further did an evaluation on which groups were market ready, near ready or not ready, based on the ten desirable elements for a successful tourism business, it was observed that, only 22% were market ready, 33% are near ready while 45% are not ready.

The results present a great task a head for Ecotourism Kenya and other stakeholders to provide related support services necessary for the communities engaged in tourism businesses to achieve market-readiness. We foresee that in order for the CBT enterprises to implement their action plans and subsequently be market-ready, it calls for empowerments of the communities through:-

1. Capacity building: Provide and develop technical training and exposure to acquire experience e.g. through mentorship programmes.
2. Facilitating private sector and community collaboration: Develop marketing strategies and create an awareness of availability and means of developing collaborative arrangements. 
3. Market access: Provide marketing support services to the CBT enterprises.
4. Access to credit, training: Be able to source credit and assist in acquiring suitable conditions for credit e.g. support and information to the Community-based tourism enterprises.

In conclusion it is envisaged that at the end of the eight regional workshops planned across the country in 2007, Ecotourism Kenya will have developed a datahub of community-based tourism market-ready products, activities and services. This information will be vital for organizing how to link CBT initiatives into mainstream tourism business distribution networks. The stakeholders support is therefore necessary in assisting Ecotourism Kenya to mentor CBT enterprises to achieve market-readiness.