A Review of the Future of Tourism in Coastal Kenya: The Challenges andOpportunities Posed by Climate Change
Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
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Abstract: The Kenyan economy highly depends on agriculture and tourism. The performance of the two sectors of the economy are however very vulnerable to the effects of climate/weather variability. The main tourist attractions alongthe coastal Kenya are the historical and heritage sites such as the Vasco Da Gama Pillar,ruin of Gedi and the FortJesus,the coastal beaches,rainforests and marine parks.Climate variability and climate change is experienced globally; the changes and its impacts however vary bothspatially and temporally. This study reviewed the future changes in climate over coastal Kenya and its effects on thetourism sector in the region. It employed both desk top review of literature in the two fields; tourism and climatechanges and statistical analysis.The temperature,precipitation and floods are projected to increase in Kenya at large. These are likely to lead tosea-level rise that is expected to cause flooding and inundation of coast lines. This is a potential threat to coastalenvironment: low-lying coastal plains,islands,beaches,coastal wetlands and estuaries. These in turn lead toproblems such as destruction of infrastructure and some tourism cites along the coast. This will hamper tourism atthe coast reducing the revenue collection for Mombasa county and national governments.The study recommends that both the national and county governments sensitize several sectors on the causesand implications of climate change,and explore and develop non-nature-based tourism products and services.