Ecotourism Kenya is Supporting Tour Operators to Achieve Sustainability in Their Operations

Abstract

Tourism in and around protected areas can have both positive and negative impacts. Some of the positive impacts include providing direct revenues for protected areas and local communities, while some of the negative impacts include: air pollution from transportation, pollution of soil, ground water and surface water as a result of improper waste disposal (such as plastic), and destruction of wildlife habitat destruction. Addressing the negative impacts require co-operation among all tourism industry stakeholders including tour operators. Indeed, there is rising trend in demand for responsible products and services among consumers, but the level of awareness about this very important concept is not at par with the demand of ‘green products’.