SETTI N G A N D OPERATI N G A SUCCESSFUL ECOTOURISM VE N TURE I N KE NY A

1. SETTING AND OPERATING A SUCCESSFUL ECOTOURISM VENTURE IN KENYA

2. Setting Up a Business • Have you counted the cost? For a successful business to begin and operate effectively, one should see the end from the beginning. Why am I getting into business? What is your vision for the business?

3. *** • Cost Time Do you have a plan of how you are going to start and operate the business? Allocation of time for each phase of beginning the business. Designing operation systems of the business.

4. * Resources Existing available resources. • landscapes or flora/fauna which have inherent attractiveness or degree of interest to appeal either to specialists or more general visitors; • ecosystems that are at least able to absorb a managed level of visitation without damage;

5. * Skills What skills do you have and what will you need  help with?  • One of the key success factors is having the  right business team. Good management skills are critical.  Consider whether you know how to do the following tasks, need some training, or need somebody else to do them for you; 

6. * • General – Manage your time; hire, supervise, and train employees; delegate tasks; build and  motivate a team; and make appropriate  changes to keep the business successful. 

7. * • Operational – Buy and manage inventory;  schedule work; negotiate agreements or  contracts;  and comply withregulations governing  employees and other aspects of the business.

8. * • Financial – Set up and keep records; develop  operating budgets; compile financial statements; project and monitor  cash flow; prepare a loan/funding  proposal; analyze financial performance;  comply with payroll and tax requirements. requirements. 

9. * • Market Is there a market for your business? Do we have tourists or not? This depends on your definition of a tourist. Target customers? Market Trends? Marketing strategy?

10. * • consumer demographics • competitive analysis— understanding who the competition  is, what they offer, why people go to them,  and what you can do to get some of that  business

11. * • The patterns, profiles and interests of existing visitors to the area, based on visitor surveys. • The location of the area with respect to established tourist circuits in the country • The level, nature and performance of existing ecotourism products which are competitors

12. * • The activities of inbound tour operators and ground handling agents in the country and coverage by international tour operators. • existing information and promotional mechanisms in the area. • potential collaborators.

13. * • Business acumen a) Creativity Unique packaging of your products and services. *Local produce and handicrafts: although visitors may look for authenticity, it is very important to avoid the depletion of cultural artefacts and other resources. Quality products can be made and sold which reflect an area’s traditions and creativity without devaluing them.

14. * • Participation: some visitors value the opportunity to participate in activities.

15. * b) Guiding and interpretation: a fine balance between local colour and story telling, and scientific knowledge and accuracy is often sought b visitors. This may require involvement of different people, including an opportunity for local people to be trained as guides and interpreters.

16. Sustainance of a Ecotourism Business • Have a local community that is aware of the potential opportunities, risks and changes involved, and is interested in receiving visitors; • Have existing or potential structures for effective community decision-making • There is no obvious threats to indigenous culture and traditions; • products developed should be based on the community’s traditional knowledge, values and skills; and

17. * • The community should decide which aspects of their cultural traditions they wish to share with visitors. • An initial market assessment suggesting a potential demand and an effective means of accessing it, and that the area is not over supplied with ecotourism offers.

18. * • Careful consultation within the community covering attitudes and awareness of tourism, possible opportunities and pitfalls, existing experience, concerns and level of interest;

19. * • Ecotourism can be integrated with other sectors of the rural economy, creating mutually supportive linkages and reducing financial leakage away from the area. It can also be coordinated with agriculture, in terms of the use of time and resources and in providing markets for local produce.

20. * • National level support is needed in terms of linking conservation and tourism activities and responsibilities, appropriate legislation and assistance towards small enterprises and community initiatives, and national and international promotion.

21. * • Products developed should be based on the community’s traditional knowledge, values and skills; • The community should decide which aspects of their cultural traditions they wish to share with visitors.

22. * • Ensure that the visitor will feel safe and is assured of quality service.