Enhancing Sustainable Tourism Innovation for Community Empowerment in Kenya

Tourism is Kenya’s third-largest foreign exchange earner, and a major employer, accounting for about 12% of the total employment and 13.7% of GDP. The tourism industry is based on a diverse range of natural, social, human and physical resources, but facing challenges for sustainable development. For example, over 80% of total visits concentrate in 7 parks, and the seasonal nature of tourism further aggregates the stress on natural resources during peaking seasons and reduces the efficiency of infrastructure and staff during the low seasons.