- towards a sustainable future -
IntroductionThe growth of Laikipia’s tourism industry is directly linked to the Laikipia wide conservation effort by landowners and communities working together to provide space for wildlife and to ensure fundamental ecosystem processes are maintained. The effort is resulting in a high level of conservation success that is seen not only in the wildlife populations, but also changing attitudes towards wildlife and improvements to other key components of the ecosystem. Complementing the conservation effort across Laikipia, has been a sustained campaign by LWF to market Laikipia’s dynamic tourism industry both nationally and internationally as a unique tourism product, and Kenya’s foremost safari destination. The Tourism Development, Destination Marketing and Branding Plan for Laikipia was initiated in 2004 under the LWF’s Tourism Development Programme, and includes a range of actions and products for the benefit of all tourism operators in Laikipia. Programme ObjectivesTo promote both the inherent value of the Laikipia region and the collective values of the tourism product offered by the range of tourism operations in the region. How the Programme WorksTourism Development Officer: Phillipa Bengough manages the Tourism Development Programme, and is primarily responsible for the implementation of the Laikipia Tourism Development Plan in collaboration with the LWF Tourism Committee. Along side destination marketing initiatives, the TDO’s role includes forging partnerships with the tourism sector, providing tourism related information to members, encouraging financial contributions in support of LWF’s conservation work, and monitoring performance of tourism in Laikipia. The Tourism Development Programme: Launched with support from Tourism Trust Fund (TTF), a European Union / Kenya Government joint venture in 2004, to fund the Laikipia Tourism Development Plan. LWF has made considerable progress in enhancing the impact of Laikipia’s tourism industry, ensuring that Laikipia is on the map in so significant a way that it rivals the Mara in the eyes of the world. Given the exclusive nature and outstanding quality of Laikipia lodges, the remarkable integrity of the ecosystem with its immense wildlife populations, and the fact that the plateau is home to more endangered species than anywhere else in East Africa, the LWF is convinced that Laikipia will increasingly be seen as Kenya's foremost safari destination. To date the Programme has guided the development of key tourism marketing activities, including the development of the Laikipia Information Centre, located on Nanyuki airfield, the hub and gateway to Laikipia, and Kenya’s northern rangelands. The centre, developed in partnership with Tropic Air, is a fantastic facility for visitors linking onto air charter or schedule flight services. Not only can visitors have a bite to eat, but they can absorb some of the brightly coloured information about Laikipia arranged on every available wall surface, read fact-files and take home flyers. LWF has also developed a range of products, including a visually stunning Laikipia brochure and artistic informative road map, which have been targeted to a database of local and international tourism contacts. In keeping the industry informed LWF has circulated regular tourism e-news updates, promoted www.laikipia.org as an information source, conduced a series of presentations, attended local travel shows, as well as secured representation in international travel shows, and submitted monthly articles/images to Kenya’s leading travel magazine ‘Travel News’. In recognition of LWF’s marketing efforts, Bed Night Levy contributions from members increased from $5800 in 2003 (the year before the LTDP started), and reached a peak of $24,200 in 2006. LWF continues to support tourism development though lobbying local and national authorities and building partnerships with key stakeholders. LWF also supports developments to security networks and access/transportation. Tourism in LaikipiaLaikipia receives over 80,000 visitors per year – this accounts for 10% of Kenya’s total international visitor numbers, and the majority of international visitors to Laikipia travel on specialized tailor-made safaris. There are over 40 tourism operations active in Laikipia, and the type of facility ranges from small exclusive lodges and community-owned lodges, to tented camps, ranch houses, hotels, wild-camping, and adventure safaris. The typical facility in Laikipia has just 16 beds. The nature of Laikipia’s tourism plays an important national role in changing Kenya’s historic image as a low quality high volume tourism destination. 90% of Laikipia’s tourism facilities are based in natural wildlife areas and focus on wildlife and wilderness based tourism as their core product. By ensuring the remarkable integrity of the Laikipia ecosystem, the LWF has been instrumental in demonstrating that wildlife can form the basis to economically viable and sustainable land-use options in dry-lands through ecotourism, and LWF continues to play a pivotal role in the development of world class community-owned tourism projects. Laikipia is now host to 5 community-owned ecotourism enterprises (Il N’gwesi, Tassia, Koija Star Beds, The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille and Ol Gaboli Community Banda’s). In addition to community-owned lodges, Laikipia is quickly developing as a self-drive tourism destination with abundant wild-camping opportunities on community-owned and managed rangelands and forest reserves. Laikipia’s tourism is clearly a viable economic alternative land-use to agriculture and pastoral expansion. It also provides an incentive for the development of local community projects and generates community development support. The tourism sector has undoubtedly the greatest long term interest in seeing the success of the Forum's work towards the maintenance of the integrity of the Laikipia ecosystem. In turn, the LWF recognises that tourism holds the greatest potential for development of a sustainable funding base, and a long term future for the Forum's pioneering community conservation and wildlife management programmes. More Info:
Phillipa Bengough – Tourism Development Officer
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Responsible Tourism: 10 points of commitment - active contribution towards conservation. Click here to view the Laikipia District map | 
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