HakiPensheni

 

Rendile traditional dancers at Merille in Marsabit County entertain visitors who are headed to the Sibiloi National Park. PHOTO | FILE 

By Annie Njanja

Ecotourism has in the recent past become a popular tourism sales pitch. The Ecotourism Society defines it as “responsible travel to natural areas, which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people”.

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A walk to Ngong Hills is, therefore, not eco-tourism unless the walk is linked to a process that benefits the particular environment and the people who live around it.

The walk can be branded ecotourism if the participants raise awareness or funds to help protect the forest around the hills.

It is under the guidance of this definition that Ecotourism Kenya, a civil society organisation that plays a key role in ensuring Kenya’s tourism is sustainable for the environment and local communities, is looking for enterprises and innovations by students that encourage responsible tourism by directly conserving the natural environment linked to local communities through mutually-beneficial and equitable partnerships.

The initiative, now in its eighth year, seeks to recognise tourism businesses and students who have initiated or demonstrated strong leadership in innovative projects, products or programmes that advocate for uniting tourism, communities and conservation.

“Potential nominees must demonstrate clearly elements of responsible, respectful and sustainable tourism,” reads a statement on Ecotourism Kenya’s website.

The ecotourism enterprises will be feted against winners in six other categories at a gala to be held on October 9 during the Magical Kenya Travel Expo that will be hosted by the Kenya Tourism Board between October 8 and 10.

All nominations must be submitted through a filled in nomination form with a written confirmation and acceptance of the nominee by August 29.

Last year, Severin Sea Lodge in Bamburi won the Ecotourism Enterprise of the Year award after it was established that it was the only institution in that category to employ a fulltime environmental officer,  to install a biological water purification plant and to use methane gas in lighting.

The students’ award was won by David Mwabili and Billy Oyaro, then third year students at Egerton University. The duo sought to establish a reliable and accurate source of information on ecotourism to cater to the current tourism influx and concerns on conservation and mitigation of global warming.

This led to the creation of Ecotourism Demystified, a travel blog on ecotourism and responsible travel in Kenya.

With more than 550 members, and reaching out to hundreds more in Kenya and East Africa, Ecotourism Kenya seeks to promote respect for the environment, local people and cultures.

It also aims to contribute actively to the founding of initiatives that impact positively on local economies and empower local communities, in addition to providing opportunities for linkages between foreign and local groups in the promoting good environmental governance.