Eco-Tourism Potential and Development within Lake Nakuru National Park and its Catchment.

Abstract

This report summarises the eco-tourism potentials within Lake Nakuru National Park and its catchment to promote environmental conservation and socio-economic development that involves community participation for poverty alleviation. The area is of immense importance both nationally and internationally with tremendous potential for eco-tourism development. Currently, the Park receives about 200,000 visitors per year, most of whom on average stay only for two nights. In the recent past minimal efforts have been made to promote eco-tourism and there is a need to develop “alternative tourism”. This report : - (1) Assess eco-tourism potentials and products in Lake Nakuru National Park and its catchment through identification of natural and cultural eco-tourism sites/localities, and their specific products including the types, numbers and spatial distribution of the products and other tourist facilities, description of current management regimes of the sites and the products, and assessment of the existing infrastructure within Lake Nakuru National Park and its catchment; (2) Identifies the stakeholders involved or to be involved in eco-tourism development, highlighting their roles and responsibilities, and areas of partnership, and of conflicts, in eco-tourism development for environmental protection, sustainable socio-economic development, community participation and poverty alleviation; (3) Assess some of the major problems/constraints in management and promotion of eco-tourism in the Lake Nakuru National Park and its catchment and suggest how to overcome the constraints; (4) Develops eco-tourism development plan for the region taking into account its carrying capacity, the vision of eco-tourism development in Kenya as stated by the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) and the tourism development strategies as outlined in the JICA Kenya National Tourism Master Plan, and within the frameworks of KWS Lake Nakuru Ecosystem Integrated Management Plan and MCN Nakuru Strategic Structure Plan (NSSP). The business plan outlines (i) measures for education, awareness and training of key stakeholders on eco-tourism development, (ii) mechanism for diversification of the tourism products and activities, taking cognisance of the existing players, (iii) proposed infrastructure development needs for eco-tourism in the region, (iv) information packages to promote eco-tourism, (v) suggested strategies for the various tourism products through information centres, E-marketing and community based guided tours, etc, all in an integrated manner.