Domestic Tourism Case Study

DETERMINANTS OF DOMESTIC TOURISM TO NATIONAL PARKS IN KENYA.

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Domestic tourism is defined as the activities of residents of a given country or other area travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes whereas international tourism consider the same activities but occurring in places outside a travelers’ country of residence (WTO).Even though the World Organization estimates that there are almost three times as many domestic tourists as international ones worldwide, this does not seem to be true for poor countries especially in Africa.(Manono et al 2013)A statistical analysis released by KNBS shows that the total number of nights

It ensures; the flow of investment; spreading of economic development through visits by metropolitan tourists to both popular and less known areas of the country, development of the local infrastructure and distribution of personal wealth. Domestic tourism also presents a more predictable demand and import substitution, as the country will save on foreign exchange. Growth in the domestic tourism market would further combat seasonality ,increase the value of a tourist destination and inequitable geographic tourist spread. Support of the local industry by the locals can realize improved quality in product and services, maintenance of occupancy levels and ultimately the confidence of international visitors. It therefore reduces the exposure of the tourism industry to fluctuations in international demand, which is sensitive to changes in the political and economic environment including bad publicity and internal insecurity .However the percentage of domestic market of overall tourism activities is small despite the industry being relatively mature. Most tourism investment in Kenya has always, even now, targeted the affluent foreign tourists from the western and eastern countries. No attention is paid on domestic tourism, especially if nothing is threatening the international tourism sources. Passing concern is only expressed when numbers in international tourism declines such as during low

Susan and Swarbroke (1999) talked of determinants of tourist consumer behaviour.They say that there are two types of determinants I)those factors which determine whether or not someone will be able to take holiday ii)those factors which determine the type of the trip if the first set of determinants allow a holiday to be taken. the type of trip taken can encompass a huge range of variables including, the destination for the trip, when the trip will be taken, mode of travel to be used, duration of the trip, how much will be spent on the trip and activities undertaken by the tourist during the holiday

Figure 1.5: PERSONAL DETERMINANTS OF TOURIST