FIELD TRIP REPORT
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM MANAGEMENT
NAME : KAMAU CHEGE KELVIN
REG NO : BTO/005/15
COURSE CODE :
COURSE TITLE : FIELD TRIP
TASK : FIELD TRIP REPORT
DATE : ____________________
SIGN : ____________________
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I take this opportunity to thank the entire University of Eldoret Management. Specifically, the Tourism and Tour Operations Department. Special gratitude to the trip coordinator Dr. Ariya for tirelessly ensuring that the trip was a success.
Above all, I would like to thank Almighty God for the safe journey, good health, protection, and care that he gave us throughout the trip. We could not have made it by our strength.
Thank you so much.
DEDICATION
I want to dedicate this report to my fellow Tourism students and everyone else who made the trip to be successful.
ACRONYMS
KMFRI Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
UNESCO United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
WTO World Tourism Organization
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ii
DEDICATION iii
ACRONYMS iv
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY vii
CHAPTER ONE 1
1.1. Introduction 1
1.2. Significance of the Field Trip 1
1.3. Objectives of the Trip 2
CHAPTER TWO 3
2.1. Moi International Airport 3
2.2. Mombasa Marine Park 4
2.3. Haller Park 4
2.4. Nyali and Jomo Kenyatta Beaches. 7
2.5. Fort Jesus and Mombasa Old Town 7
CHAPTER THREE 9
3.1. Sustainability of Coastal and Marine Tourism 9
CHAPTER FOUR 12
4.1. Summary 12
4.2. Conclusion 12
4.3. Recommendations 13
REFERENCES 14
APPENDIX 15
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Both fourth-year classes of Tourism management and Tours and Travel Management visited the coastal region for their annual educational tour from 23rd-27th April 2019. The trip offers a rare opportunity for the students to learn about the historical planning background of the coastal region as well as the current issues facing the coastal area. The students are also able to appreciate the diverse geographical landscape from Eldoret to Mombasa and identify various tourist attraction sites along the way.
The trip was guided by four main objectives, which included: to explore the historical places in the region and learn their contribution to cultural tourism; to investigate the significance of coastal towns. To identify the impacts of coastal and marine tourism, understand the marine ecosystem, study on the challenges influencing sustainability to the coastal region.
The trip was an informative one, and students were able to learn a lot from experience. During this trip, we had the chance to visit the following areas in the coastal region; Moi International Airport Mombasa, Fort Jesus, Mombasa old town, Haller Park, Mombasa Marine Park, Nyali Beach, and Jomo Kenyatta Beach. These areas presented many learning opportunities for tourism students. The students were also able to appreciate conservation elements in planning after their visit to Haller Park.
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
Educational Trips to the coastal region are historical and as a result, has become a tradition in the University of Eldoret and this case department of Tourism and Tour Operations Management. Different departments in the university hold theirs differently. In the department Tourism and Tour Operations Management, the academic trips to the coast are a preserve for the fourth year students in every academic year. This particular one was not any different; it was a wonderful trip. It was attended by both second and fourth-year students where they not only learned a lot but also got a lot of exposure and enjoyment.
The Kenya coast is very outstanding because of its unique marine ecosystem. As a result, it attracts so many tourists, both domestic and international. The local tourists mainly visit the coastal region to relax and enjoy the hot climate and also the diverse marine ecosystem — students, especially those taking tourism management benefit from any trip in the coastal area. The key reason is that they get to understand the marine ecosystem course and any other course learned in the class.
The key places visited during the trip were: Moi International Airport Mombasa, Fort Jesus, Mombasa old town, Haller Park, Mombasa Marine Park, Nyali Beach, and Jomo Kenyatta Beach.
Significance of the Field Trip
- Gives the students a clear understanding of how tourists consume tourism products.
- Breaks the class monotony.
- Gives the students a chance of visiting places where they could be employed in future
- Help the students to identify different types of attractions learned in class.
Objectives of the Trip
The primary aim of the trip was to understand the coastal and marine ecosystem and tourism. More importantly, it was to identify the challenges of sustainable tourism in the coast region.
Other objectives include:
To Clearly understand the coastal and marine ecosystem
Identify different tourist attractions and activities on the coast.
Impacts of coastal and marine tourism.
Investigate the challenges affecting sustainability in coastal tourism.
CHAPTER TWO
2.1. Moi International Airport
Moi International Airport is the second biggest airport in Kenya after JKIA. It is located in the city of Mombasa. It is spread over an area of 539ha and is operates under Kenya Airports Authority. Moi International airport handles significant traffic with more than eighteen airlines flying directly from and to Europe. Moreover, it offers connections to more than twenty cities in the entire region. Coast region has maintained its attractiveness to tourists; thus, the airport had been developed to handle long haul international flights. The Moi International Airport has four terminals, two passenger terminals. Terminal 1 has international and domestic departures and arrival stations, whereas Terminal 2 only handles international departures. The other two terminals include a general aviation terminal that is used for local departures to tourist destinations, airstrips and domestic airports and a cargo terminal, which is used for cargo imports and exports. The airport also has freight terminal, control tower, two hangars and service buildings for power and water supply. The VP/VIP, business and first-class lounges, canteens, post office, and banks are some of the passenger services offered in the airport. Moi International Airport has two runways. Runway 21/03 which is 3,350m long and 45m wide and Runway 33/15 which is 1,260m long and 36m wide. The airport features ten taxiways, including taxiway A, a parallel taxiway that is 3,564m long and 23m wide, and taxiways B, C and D, which serve as 23m-wide exit taxiways. The taxiways H and J are used for small aircraft as connecting taxiways, whereas K and L are also connecting taxiways. An isolated taxiway F is located to the west end of the runway 15, while taxiway M is a military taxiway.
2.2. Mombasa Marine Park
Mombasa Marine National Park and the reserve is a national reserve, and Marine Park found in Mombasa, Kenya and was established in 1986. The park covers 10km2 while the sanctuary is 200km2. This attraction is very popular, and amongst the marine parks in Kenya, it is the most visited because of diving and snorkeling. The park is so rich in coral reefs. The weather conditions are generally warm with temperatures varying between 25 and 31 degrees Celsius in a year.
The reef attracts an incredible range of fish, most of which are almost iridescent in color and fantastically marked. Look out for the celestial blue and jade-green parrotfish, striped zebrafish, multi-colored angelfish and the soup plate-sized butterfly fish. Clouds of tiny damselfish also often hover above the branching coral, and under deep ledges, you may catch a glimpse of the magnificent lionfish with its mane of sharp spikes (a sting from this fish can be very painful). Hunting sharks, rays, turtle and starfish also hunt the reef.
Environmental friendly activities such as snorkeling and diving are encouraged, under the supervision of Kenya wildlife service warden, who work closely with local tour operators and hoteliers to ensure strict adherence to this code of practice. We have privileged a chance to get to the marine park through Sarova White sands gate. The briefing was done by the Kenya Wildlife Service warden and then got into the boats to have the real experience of the deep sea, watching coral reefs, the different types of fish, and most importantly swimming.
2.3. Haller Park
Haller Park Haller park ecosystem is part of the more significant Bamburi Cement properties. Park is located within the 600-acre piece of land owned by the Bamburi Cement Company. The company is located at the outskirts of Mombasa city suburbs approximately ten kilometers from the main-stream City Central Business District. We were much amazed by the beautiful integration of the park with the much noisy and polluted environment resulting from the industry. The park was founded by one of the Bamburi Company Owner Mr. Haller. Going back to the origins of its existence, Bamburi Cement Company was founded in 1951 by Felix Mandi- a director of Dementia Holding A.G Zurich. The first commercial production was started in 1954 with an annual capacity of 140,000 tones today the capacity has increased to 1.1 million tonnes.
Some of the technical locational factors for the company included the availability of the raw materials, which are the limestone rocks, availability of land, and transportation to the hinterland and consumers. By 1971, mining had left a significant portion of the 600-acre piece of land to disable and barren. Rehabilitation attempts of the areas began with an experiment of twenty-one 20 tree species of which in that only three survived the harsh soil conditions. The three were planted across the park in conservation efforts that received global recognition by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Haller Park as an ecosystem is host to wildlife such as giraffes, hippos, buffalos, crocodile’s, monkeys, snakes, antelopes, Heron Egrets amongst othersThe company has engaged in a lot of environmental rehabilitation activities such as development of crocodile ponds, planting of mangrove trees which help in cleaning of saline water, adopted hippos one from Germany and one from Kenya while providing them with ample living environment, the buffalos and antelopes. The very section everyone wants to visit with eager is the snake zoos. The company has ten protected and reared ten different snake species including the python, green and black mambas which are known to the most poisonous; then there is the cobra which curves like a walking stick when it intends to attack. The epitome of the park is the fish rearing unit, which was set to ensure the garage is self-sustaining in terms of the income. Several fish bread is raised, and the majority of consumers are fish farmers and consultation services to various Kenyans in developing a fish farm.
Also, the famous mzee tortoise which was said to be 130 years. Mzee hit the headlines in the year 2004 when it formed a stunning relationship with the adopted hippo stranded in Malindi beach. The tortoise, which is mainly seen at the entrance of the park is the represents the environmental agenda the park has to nature. The park also provides habitat to various birds’ species thus making it an ideal place for birdwatchers. The birds commonly seen in the park include; Weaver birds, Kingfisher, Storks, Herons, Egrets, Owls, Eagles, Kites, Cranes, Ibis, Sandpipers, Fischer’s love birds, and parrots.
Besides, in the year 1998, the management initiated a butterfly project, which was part of the rehabilitation process. The main reason being that many butterflies had been lost due to forest destruction as a result of the mining process. Therefore, there was a need to restore the degraded ecosystems to promote recovery of displaced butterfly species. The pavilion is home to more than 16 species of butterfly. There are daily guided tours offered to the Butterfly Pavilion and the Butterfly Breeding House. The project was started to improve the biosystem balance, reinstate the lost biodiversity, and also to act as a source of bioindicators.
Another fantastic project in this park is the biofilter systems where water from the aquaculture activities was filtered. Currently, the biofiltration site boasts two species of mangroves, Avicenna and Rhizophora. This was a project done in collaboration with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) and Green water. The biofiltration project is a significant step towards improving water quality and groundwater recharge in Haller Park water circulation system. The biofiltration system aims to act as a substantial functioning and eventually self-reliant nutrient sink. Plants in the park pay a very vital role in the bio-filter systems where their stems and roots act as a mechanical filter. Also, by reducing the force of flowing water, sedimentation is increased, offer substrate for the available bacteria, and finally uptake of mineralized nutrients into the biomass which eventually is harvested.
2.4. Nyali and Jomo Kenyatta Beaches.
A beach is a flat patch of sand that leads down to the sea. Coast is well-known for its outstanding beaches. The trip wouldn’t be complete without swimming. Therefore, we were privileged to be taken to Jomo Kenyatta and Nyali beaches for swimming, sunbathing, and games like building sand castles. These are two beaches where a domestic tourist doesn’t need to pay anything. Unlike the Jomo Kenyatta beach, Nyali beach is not overcrowded. The entire environment is amicable.
2.5. Fort Jesus and Mombasa Old Town
Fort Jesus was built by the Portuguese towards the end of the 16th century (1593-1596) on the coastline near Old Town Mombasa. It is visited by both local and international tourists. We were given a full tour around it. Mombasa was a transit place for trade at that time, and a gateway to India and the fort was built to protect the town from outside invaders. Today, it has grown to become one of the most visited areas in Mombasa. The fort stood over a spur of coral, and it tells the story of how the Portuguese at one time ruled the trade routes of the Indian Ocean. Its location ensures that they could see any ship as it approached. It also tells the story of how many slaves perished from torture, hunger, and disease as they waited to be transported. During the East African Slave Trade era, slaves would travel to Arabia and the Persian Gulf through the port of Mombasa, many becoming laborers, guards, soldiers, or concubines. During the 16th century, there were nascent cultural, commercial, and political forces. The Portuguese built the fort by the designs of Joao Batista Cairato, who drew his inspiration from Pietro Cataneo, an Italian architect.
However, despite the design being of the Renaissance period, with its five bastions, the building material and labor came from the Swahili people, who were the indigenous inhabitants of Mombasa. The fort takes the shape of a man when viewed from above. After the Portuguese inhabited it, the fort was the subject of battle. Between 1631 and 1895, it was captured and recaptured, changing hands nine times, with the Omani Arabs winning control over it in 1698. In 1895, the British transformed it into a prison and held slaves in the torture rooms and cells in the inner part of the fort. There were also cannons to protect the interior from invasions and dissatisfied locals. After recapturing it, the Portuguese refurbished it and has since been restored several times, its structures revealing Portuguese, Arab, and British influences. In 1858, it became a national park, and in 2011 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, marked as one of the most brilliant structures from the 16th century.
Mombasa Old Town is one of the historical tourist attractions on Mombasa Island. It is located on the southeast side of Mombasa and occupies an area of 180 acres. It is inhabited by a mix of local, Arab, Portuguese, Asian and British communities. We were taken around. Fort Jesus (Mombasa’s most popular tourist attraction) is next to the Old Town. The architecture recaptures a bygone era influenced by the African, Arabic, and European cultures, from the narrow streets to the high ornamental balconies. Many curio shops sell arts and crafts, antiques and popular Kenyan souvenirs. Old Town in Mombasa is made up of very narrow streets and ancient houses and shops. Much of the traditional shops occupied by Indians have gone.
CHAPTER THREE
3.1. Sustainability of Coastal and Marine Tourism
As marine tourism grows and expands, the impact of the tourism industry on coastal ecosystems also increases. It also affects wildlife by land degradation, pollution and excessive use of natural resources. However, with better planning and practices, tourism could not only safeguard the physical assets that often draw visitors in the first place but also help to lift local people out of poverty.
The concept of coastal tourism includes a range of tourism, leisure, and recreationally oriented activities that occur in the coastal zone and immediate offshore coastal waters. These include tourism-related development (accommodation, restaurants and food services, attractions, and second homes), and the infrastructure supporting coastal and marine tourism development (e.g., retail businesses, transport hubs, marinas, and activity suppliers). Also included are tourism activities such as recreational boating, coast- and marine-based ecotourism, cruises, swimming, recreational fishing, snorkeling, and diving.
The oceans are the source of livelihoods of many people in different countries and have become a strong pillar of the economy of many nations. The economic value of the oceans is mostly comprised of fisheries, tourism, shipping lanes, and the coastal protection provided by corals, mangroves, and wetlands. These areas are also significantly interdependent. It is estimated that more than two-thirds of the global gross marine product relies on a healthy ocean. Therefore using the coastal resources sustainably is the only assurance that they would be available in the future.
Marine tourism resources exist under a range of global systemic threats to marine and ocean systems that are primarily anthropogenically driven. These include climate change, overfishing, bottom trawling (towing a trawl, which is a fishing net along the sea floor) transfer of exotic species, changes in waste, nutrient and sediment inputs into coastal and marine ecosystems, coastal urbanization and loss of natural capital in coastal areas, especially coastal wetlands. The experiences of these threats are “uneven,” that is, while they are global in scale their effects on tourism development and the tourist experience varies from location to location. Nevertheless, their results are systemic in that over time, they affect not only destinations but also source regions as well.
The marine and coastal tourism are particularly vulnerable to climate change, natural disasters, and pollution. The sea level rise anticipated from climate change is the most significant long-term threat facing the tourism industry in many SIDS, where most tourism infrastructure lies just above sea level. In the short term, unmanaged mass tourism can negatively impact coastal ecosystems.
Sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, can have a significant impact on the recovery and conservation of these ecosystems. Tourists are starting to pay attention to environmental standards and certifications applying not only to destinations and the tourism infrastructure but also to hotels and the behavior of tourism and transport operators. The principle of sustainable tourism was proposed as early as 1988 by the World Tourism Organization, with sustainable tourism “envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs which can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, and biological diversity and life support systems”.
At Kenya’s coast, a lot of challenges are hindering sustainable tourism. For instance, too many constructions along the beaches have been constructed. More to that, many more are also being built. For a place to be built, some clearing is done thus interfering with the natural ecosystem setting. These activities change the entire ecosystem, thus hindering sustainable tourism achievement. Also, the high number of visitors on the beaches is impacting a lot of negatives to the destination. For instance, the tourists flock a particular goal such as a beach and may even go ahead and start collecting shells, thus killing some living organisms.
Moreover, the mangrove forests are critically endangered. This has been brought about by illegal logging in the mangrove forests. If this continues, these plant species will no longer be found on our coast. Therefore, there is much need to ban the use of these plant species completely. Also, the marine ecosystem has been at risk due to many naval vessels’ accidents. When these accidents happen, oil is spilled on the water surface, thus causing mass killing of marine life. Therefore, the accommodation facilities along the coast should avoid disposing their waste into the water since it has a significant effect on the decline of marine life. There is also an urgent need to react timely to coastal flooding and erosion in the African Coastal areas. There should include active tourism and environment laws to protect coastal biodiversity.
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1. Summary
The entire trip was very significant because we had the chance to have a taste of the real coastal life. However, short the period was, it was very educative in terms of seeing what was taught in class concerning the coastal lives and the entire ecosystem. The ecosystem was clearly understood, and also it relates to each other. Having been taken to Moi International airport, a clear understanding of the flight journeys was achieved. Even the challenges hindering sustainability of coastal tourism were identified and also the possible means of overcoming these challenges. An understanding of the coastal history that was narrated when in fort Jesus by some excellent guides. The exposure to a new region, through various tourism circuits, allowed us to locate most of the famous tourist attractions along the way. Major landmarks and tourist attractions along the way included the Tsavo East and West National Parks, the Chyulu Hills National Park and the world-famous Amboseli National Park. The white halo peak of the Mount Kilimanjaro rises clearly to the West and all around to the South stretch miles of Maasai land
4.2. Conclusion
Conclusively, the entire trip was a success. The main reason being that the education part of it was excellent and also the recreation part of it was a great one. Generally, the trip gave most of the students an urge to return to the region when time and finances allow. That is, in future times. The education part of the trip was terrific since what was covered in the previous in class was well understood. Also, some more great courses that will be taught at the end of the fourth year will be linked to most of what was experienced and observed during this trip.
4.3. Recommendations
More academic flights should be introduced to enhance students’ understanding and experience of the tourism industry.
In case of a long journey, trips should be allocated more time to visit more places when in a particular destination.
The department should plan for trips that may allow camping and hiking. This would give the students more exposure and improve their survival techniques when in the wild.
REFERENCES
Linehan, D., & Sarmento, J., (2011). Spacing Forgetting: The Birth of the Museum at Fort Jesus, Mombasa, and the Legacies of the Colonization of Memory in Kenya. In Cultural Memories (pp. 305-325). Springer, Dordrecht.
Ransom, K. P., & Mangi, S. C., (2010). Valuing recreational benefits of coral reefs: The case of Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve, Kenya. Environmental management, 45(1), 145-154.
Siachoono, S. M., (2010). Land reclamation efforts in Haller Park, Mombasa. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 2(2), 019-025.
APPENDIX
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A picture of Fort Jesus
A picture of a giraffe at Haller Park