SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN EAST AFRICA

Meeting the needs of the tourists, host destinations, and protecting for the future.

Planet * People * Profit

Everything that you must know about sustainable travel and tourism in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, and DRC. Over the past years, the world has been battling with nature conservation and striking a balance between human needs and nature. Different stakeholders both on the local and international scene have come out to preach the gospel of sustainable tourism. In the past, there was a lot of nature destruction by human beings through deforestation, bush burning, encroachment, and poaching, to mention but a few. This was a result of an increase in human population, urbanization, the need for money from animal products, etc. But where did that leave nature? The answer is that many animal, bird, and tree species have been victims of extinction and the few that remained were on the verge of extinction as well. 

Beyond Travel presents a detailed article about the values, pillars, characteristics, aims, and objectives of sustainable tourism not only in Uganda but also in other East African countries and Africa as a whole. We believe from our experience that man can co-exist with nature and benefit from each other as well. You do not have to clear a swamp to build a house.

What is Sustainable tourism?

Many people and organizations have defined the term “sustainable tourism” quite a number of times and on different platforms. Be it radios, televisions, in conferences, Board rooms, name it. The definition of sustainable tourism according to Beyond Travel’s perspective is not far different from the ones that existed before. Our major emphasis is on the underlying value or theme.

Sustainable Tourism can therefore be defined as the form of tourism that meets the needs of the tourist, the host destination as well as the protecting and enhancing future needs. In other words, sustainable tourism answers questions like; if a tourist has visited Uganda as a destination, how has he or she benefited?. If Uganda has been visited by a tourist, how has she (Uganda) benefited? And lastly, what impact does current tourism have on the future needs? Sustainable tourism is something that makes an account of the present and the future social, economic, and environmental needs of the society.

Is Sustainable tourism the same as ecotourism? What the difference between the two?

However much Sustainable tourism and ecotourism are usually used interchangeably, the difference exists. While sustainable tourism focuses much on the destination benefiting from the tourist and creating travel opportunities with minimal impact, ecotourism focuses much on educating the tourist and engaging them in the conservation activities. It is therefore possible for all ecotourism to be sustainable but not all sustainable tourism are ecotourism.

What are the four major pillars of sustainable tourism?

According to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), there are 4 major pillars of sustainable tourism. Once these are mastered and played around with in the right form, you are good to go;

Effective Management

This answers the question of; how are you implementing and managing sustainable practices across your tourism business? It is always important to realize that without effective management of your sustainability initiatives, your efforts may be in vein. In any endeavors of life, failure to measure your efforts means failure to know how much effort you have. It is therefore the role of tour operators such as Beyond Travel to ensure that they implement the concepts of sustainable tourism in their management.

Social and Economic

This answers the question of; how are you helping the places where your tourism product operates? In other words, the pillar focuses on maximizing social and economic benefits to the local community and minimizing negative impacts. The results on how you are supporting diversity within your organization, your customer and vendor relationships, and the communities in which you operate ought to be visible and tangible.

Cultural

This answers the question of; how does your tourism business support cultural heritage? It true that some tourism businesses are obsessed into profits and they end forgetting about the cultural heritages of their communities. In sustainable tourism, we believe that there is no profit bigger than one’s cultural heritage and that of their communities.

Environment

This pillar answers the questions of; how are you protecting, conserving, educating, and being a net positive steward of the environment and ecosystem in which you operate? Are you mitigating damage, applying restorative solutions, or both? Getting community and tourists to both participate and lead – is key.

We lead by example, below is one of the ways  Beyond Travel integrates the pillars of sustainable tourism into its day to day operations. What is peculiar about Beyond Travel is that 10% of the proceeds we get from our businesses goes directly to the School of Blind

What are the major characteristics of sustainable tourism?

Tourism industry has become a paramount industry in the modern world with countries directing a lot of expertise and funds. For instance in Uganda, tourism industry contributes about 2.6% of her total GDP. This therefore indicates that such a country values sustainable tourism with a great deal of attention. This is why understanding the characteristics of Sustainable tourism is a fundamental issue worth everybody’s attention.

Below are some of the characteristics of Sustainable tourism;

1. It benefits local economic development

Sustainable tourism emphasizes that there are a number of diverse opportunities for the creation of jobs locally. In order to maintain economic momentum within the local geographic region, sustainable tourism encourages local entrepreneurship and community reinvestment. Sustainable tourism usually discourages outsourcing. This is why in countries like Uganda and Kenya, you will find the majority of the people that work in the national parks and other tourism destinations are locals. This however, does not mean that sustainable tourism segregates.

2. Sustainable tourism ensures that tourism development benefits both the community and the environment

Tourism communities tend to receive a lot of attention from all categories of people including egocentric investors. Once these are not regulated, they may deplete the destination’s tourism attractions and beauty. This is why everything that happens in sustainable tourism should put both human needs and those of the environment into consideration. For instance, when constructing a hotel in a national park, it should be permanently in a natural setting. You do not have to cut down all the trees to set up an eco-resort. On the side of the community, protecting for example animals from attacking human beings is a key indicator of sustainable tourism. Animals should not destroy people’s crops and attack their domestic animals. Maintaining that balance is fundamental in sustainable tourism.

3. Sustainable tourism meets both profitability and viability

Those practicing sustainable tourism must ensure that markets are both profitable and viable for an extended period of time. Sustainable tourism does just look at one year but rather ten or twenty years in the future. It does not make any sense for the industry to move on and leave the communities in a sorry state. The key to maximizing both profit and long-term success lies in offering goods and services that are high in value and price, but low in volume. The end goal of sustainable tourism is having profitable but viable results both in the short and long run.

4. Becomes Part of the Local Culture

One of the most important characteristics of sustainable tourism is that it does not take over the local culture and community. The tourist industry should not detract from the special feel of a place and what makes it unique. A careful balance must be maintained in this endeavor to prevent loss of the original appeal to travelers.

5. Sustainable tourism re-invests in the local region

In order to keep the business and the communities in a balanced development, sustainable tourism encourages that the revenue from tourism be reinvested in the local communities. The money collected can be invested in local schools, hospitals, sister NGOs like Love Uganda Foundation, to mention but a few. This will help create jobs and other alternative sources of income which in turn benefits members of the community. The locals will feel the viability of conserving nature, for instance, once the Masai people of Kenya started earning money from tourists, they stopped killing the lions.

Achieving Sustainable tourism demands is not an easy venture of course, as it requires dedication, effort and time. Ensuring that man lives in harmony with nature is like trying to put make a cat believe that a rat is its brother. However, with testimonies of countries like Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, we can assert that sustainable tourism is an achievable venture.

What are the major aims of Sustainable tourism in East Africa?

The major aim of sustainable tourism is striking a balance between economic, social and environmental needs as well as creating future opportunities for growth and development.

What are the benefits of sustainable tourism in East Africa?

The benefits of Sustainable tourism can be categorized into social, cultural and environmental and they include among others but not limited to;

• Higher rates of employment due to the tourism industry

• Improved understanding of different cultures and traditions

• Conservation of heritage including architecture and natural sites

• Increased number of events and celebrations

• Increased funding for nature conservation and protection

• Strengthened communities due to more money and resources

• Improved infrastructure including buildings and transport systems

• Creation of natural parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

• Reduced numbers of animal poaching

• Improved water quality

• Preservation of local cultures

• Commercialization of art and culture

What are the limitations/challenges of Sustainable Tourism in East Africa?

Achieving sustainable tourism in East Africa has not been a bed of roses but rather a battle through quite a number of challenges. These include but not limited to the following;

• It is true that some of the stakeholders in the tourism industry are not aware of sustainable tourism development goals.
• Some employees and supply chain have not been wholesomely involved
• The negative impact of Covid-19 pandemic and the outbreak of Ebola have at some point forced people to violate and ignore some of sustainable tourism goals
• Some goals of sustainable tourism have been perceived as exaggeratory.
• Corruption
• Lack of enough funding to enable sustainable tourism message go as far as possible.

How can we make a difference? – Embracing sustainable tourism across the World.

It is important for man to realize the fact that he has been the greatest enemy of nature by serving his selfish interests. Yet, in the long run, man suffers the consequences such as drought, poverty, soil erosion, to mention but a few. It is on such grounds that everybody should play their role in as far as sustainable tourism is concerned. The future of the world lies in the way we handle the present environment.

About the Global Sustainable Tourism Council

“An organization named the “Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria” was formed in 2007 as a coalition of 32 partners, initiated by the Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation), and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The purpose was to foster increased understanding of sustainable tourism practices and the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles. Through the development of a set of universal, globally accepted criteria the partnership took the first step toward standardizing a common language for sustainable tourism.” For more information about Global Sustainable Tourism Council, follow the link GSTC History | GSTC (gstcouncil.org).

GSTC Vision: Tourism fulfills its potential as a vehicle for social, cultural, and economic good while removing and avoiding any negative impacts from its activities in terms of environmental and social impacts.

GSTC Mission: To be an agent of change in the world of sustainable travel and tourism by fostering the increased knowledge, understanding, adoption and demand for sustainable tourism practices.

Conclusion

Beyond Travel has been on the forefront of sustainable tourism in the countries of its operation, the results have been visible and viable. This is why we call upon all stakeholders – the governments, business operations and local communities to come together and spread the gospel of Sustainable tourism. If we respect the environment, it will respect us in advance.