Introduction
To understand the context and the background of the location this project takes place in, a very important second step is to understand Kenya and Kisumu. This second chapter of the report sums up the relevant facts and figures, the relevant cultural and political aspects and the tourism industry of Kenya and Kisumu. This information is used to investigate the attractiveness and potential of the market Bikeventures will target.
Kenya
Facts & Figures
Capital: Narobi
Population: 45,010,056, 2014 estimated
Area: 581,309 km2
Climate along the coast: tropical climate
Climate inland: temperate inland climate
Wildlife: Big 5 + significant population of other wild animals, reptiles and birds
Nature: mountains, inland, coast
Current social and political situation
Kenya has a turbulent history, due to a variety of ethnic groups that settled in Kenya through the decades, followed by several Western overlords. The variety of ethnic groups, the history of Western overruling and different religions make the development of an independent, coherent country difficult for Kenya. The turbulent history results until today in political and social tensions.
Tourism
Since the independency in 1963, Kenya is one of the favourite holiday locations in Africa (Lindjier, 2014). The number of tourism increased but due to political and social instability and several incidents the tourism industry collapsed several times. The fluctuation in the number of tourist has damaged the tourism industry because it is difficult for the industry to constantly adapt to the unpredictable fluctuation of the number of tourists. A graphic of the fluctuation of the number of tourists in Kenya can be found in appendix NUMMER
According to the notable awards Kenya wins, this country has full potential to be at the top of tourists’ destinations. Both the government and the population are positive about the tourism industry and they predict growth. Considering the facts and figures, the political and social instability are restraining the development but despite this the tourism industry is slowly growing and recovering from the recent collapses.
Tourism
Facts & Figures
- 1.43 million international tourist arrivals in 2014 (statista, 2015)
- 7th largest number of international tourist arrivals of the African countries(statista, 2015)
- Tourism directly provides 4% and included 10% of the total employment in Kenya (World Travel & Tourism, 2015)
- 50.8% of the money spend in the tourism industry is from foreigners, 49.2% is domestic
- Average amount of money spend on “entertainment” by a mid-range travel style: 54.15 euro’s
Motivations for tourism (Lindjier, 2014)
- nature
- wildlife
- culture
- ancestral inhabitants
- beaches
Prices won for Tourism
- 2008, Best Leisure Destination-award at the World Travel Fair in Shanghai, China
- 2013, World’s Leading Safari Destination at the World Travel Awards in Doha, Qatar
Kisumu
Facts & Figures
- one of the oldest settlements in Kenya
- 3rd biggest city in Kenya
- Capital of Nyanza Province
- Population: 390.000
- “Kisumu” means “trade” and the city owes its name to the her main function, trading
- Mean annual temperature is 23 degrees
- “Kisumu is touted to have one of the best sunsets in the world, and arguably the best in Kenya, with the sun sinking into the horizon over the lake turning the water into many hues, a spectacle that continues to drive up tourist numbers into the county”
- The main economic activities in and around the city are fishing, agriculture, industry and services.
- 42 hotels in Kisumu County (Kisumu County Fact Sheet, 2015)
- 4.2% increase in visitation for the Kisumu museum, 144.900 in 2012 to 151.200 in 2013 (News 24 Kenya, 2015)
Tourism
Kisumu County is developing into a tourist destination. The great scenery and diversity in a relatively small area is very attractive to the tourism industry, and in the following years a major boom in the tourism industry is expected. The Kisumu International Airport makes the area accessible for tourist and tourist infrastructure like hotels, lodges and activities are springing up in many places.
Conclusion
Kenya is a rising tourist destination, still influenced by its turbulent history. Political and social instability causes the tourism business to be fluctuating over time. This gives Bikeventures both opportunities and threads. Therefor these findings need to be accounted for in the business model for Bikeventures so that Bikeventures can adapt to these opportunities and threads.