Community Based Tourism
Finding the Euilibrium in the COMCEC Context
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3) Koiyaki Lemek: Developed in 2001 next to Maasai Mara Game Reserve in the Maasai
region of Kenya, as a conservation project comprising a vast land set aside by members of
the local communities mainly for wildlife conservation and to avert human-wildlife conflict.
Accommodation and game viewing services developed in partnership with private
company. Locals share the earnings in proportion to the size of each individual’s land.
4) Wasini Women’s Group: Developed in 2001 as a membership scheme where members
own shares within the group, running a nature trail including a boardwalk through a
mangrove forest and coral relics and a boutique selling clothing based on the local costume,
the kitenge.
5) Lumo: Developed in 1997 with the goal of averting human-wildlife conflict, mainly
through conservation. It covers an area of about 586 km2 that is located in the southern
region bordering the Tsavo National Park. The original idea was generated by KWS,
consultation with support agencies, such as Pact Kenya, resulted in including a private
company, (an indigenous Kenyan) having half of the restaurant and accommodation
facilities, while the locals own the other half. Ownership is based on a membership scheme
open to locals only, members have to pay some subscription to receive a share in the
sanctuary. If a member is unable to pay the subscription, a work-for-share scheme,
requiring a certain number of hours of work for entitlement to share can be used. Locals
own, control and benefits from the entry fees of the sanctuary. The revenue is expected to
generate help social development through education and health services, besides dividends
to the members.
6) Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary: Developed in 1995 to avert human-wildlife conflict,
involving elephants disrupting the local community’s agricultural activities. KWS is the
main support organization, involving the local community in partnership with a private
company running a lodge that he pays an annual fee to lease from the community. Locals
also benefit from entry fees. The ownership is based on a membership scheme, where
locals own shares based on their investment in amount of money or time in developing the
sanctuary. The revenue is also used for social development through education and health
services.
Analyses of stakeholder opinions about these cases revealed several lessons about external
intervention, CBT benefits and locals’ support for CBT development in marginalized and
rural areas:
External intervention: Mainly due to locals’ lack of relevant skills, high role and degree of
external intervention was observed in drafting of proposals, resource mobilization,
awareness creation, funding, capacity building, infrastructure development and business
planning and development. Locals expressed their need for external intervention to be
mainly advisory and facilitative, avoid interfering in local community internal affairs, not
get involved in petty politics, not lie to the community, and have an exit strategy to ensure
the sustainability of their programs.