CHAPTER FOUR
DATA RESULTS, PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION
4.1 Introduction
This chapter presents the analysis of the data collected from the respondent and discusses the research findings on contribution of rural tourism development to community livelihoods in Mara triangle in Narok County. All completed questionnaires were edited for accuracy, uniformity, consistency and completeness. A total of 100 questionnaires were distributed and 98 were returned. This represented 98% response rate. Summaries of data findings together with their possible interpretations have been presented by use of tables, mean, percentages, frequencies, variances, standard deviation and graphs.
4.2 Descriptive Analysis
4.2.1 Gender of Respondents
Respondents were asked to indicate their gender and indicated as shown in Table 4.1:
Table 4.1: Gender of Respondents
Gender Frequency Percentage (%)
Male 50 51
Female 48 49
Total 98 100.0
Source: SPSS Output Data (2015)
From Table 4.1, 51% or the respondents were male while 49% were female. Majority of the residents of Mara triangle are male counterparts and were more willing to take part in the survey.
4.2.2 Age of Respondents
The researcher sought to assess the age of the respondents. The findings are presented in Table 4.2;
Table 4.2 Age of respondents
Age Frequency Percentage (%)
18-25 19 19.4
26-35 47 48
36-45 26 26.5
46-55 6 6.10
Above 56 0 0
Total 98 100.0
Source: (SPSS Output, 2015)
4.2.3 Level of Education
Respondents were asked to indicate their level of education and indicated as in Table 4.3;
Table 4.3 Level of Education
Level of Education Frequency Percentage (%)
University 7 7.1
College 30 30.6
Secondary 23 23.5
Primary 23 23.5
No Schooling 15 15.3
Total 98 100.0
Source: (SPSS Output, 2015)
Majority of the respondents have college education (30.6%), 23.5% of the respondents had secondary education, 23.5% had primary education, 15.3% with no schooling while 7.1% had university education. This indicates that majority of the respondents were knowledgeable to fill the questionnaires.
4.2.4 Tourism Activities
The study sourced to identify the tourism livelihood activities for the Mara triangle residents. The respondents were asked to indicate activity involved in and indicated as shown in Table 4.4;
Table 4.4 Tourism Activities
Tourism Activities Frequency Percentage (%)
Sale of souvenir 14 14.3
Cultural entertainment 17 17.3
Cultural tours 5 5.1
Employment in community tourism project 17 17.3
Formal employment in the conservancy 27 27.6
Informal employment in the conservancy 18 18.4
Total 98 100.0
Source: (SPSS Output, 2015)
As evident in table 4.4 above, a majority (27.6%) of the respondents were on formal employment in the conservancy, 18.4% of the respondents were on informal employment in the conservancy, 17.3% of the respondents were employed in community tourism project, 17.3% of the respondents were involved in cultural entertainment, 14.3% of the respondents were involved in the sales of souvenir, while only 5.1% were involved in cultural tours.
4.2.5 Contribution of Tourism Development to Physical and Financial Capital
The study sought to assess the economic benefits from tourism development. Likert scale was used where: 5= strongly agree 4= agree 3= undecided 2= disagree 1= strongly disagree. They indicated as shown in Table 4.5;
Table 4.5: Economic benefits
Mean SD
Provide school bursaries 4.83 0.337
Medical support 4.40 0.352
Support for local sport activities 4.39 0.490
Provision of infrastructure and super structure 4.87 0.320
Provision of training programs 4.46 0.582
Provide employment 4.89 1.230
Community based projects 4.42 0.502
Source: (SPSS Output, 2015)
The results show that the residents have benefited economically from tourism through provision of employment (4.89), improved infrastructure and super structure (4.87), provision of school bursaries (4.83), provision of training programs (4.46), community based projects (4.42), medical support (4.40) and support for local sport activities (4.39).
4.2.6 Contribution of Tourism Development to Social Capital
The study sought to assess the social cultural benefits from tourism development. Likert scale was used where: 5= strongly agree 4= agree 3= undecided 2= disagree 1= strongly disagree. They indicated as shown in table 4.6;
Table 4.6: Social cultural benefits
Mean S.D
Cultural and social exchange 4.45 .596
Revitalization of community pride 4.27 .703
Protection of culture and local heritage 4.64 .941
Community empowerment 4.55 .844
Improved security 3.75 1.185
Human wildlife resolution 3.71 1.192
(Source: SPSS Output, 2015)
As evident in table 4.6, majority of the residents indicated that they benefited from tourism activities in that through tourism, their culture and local heritage has been protected (4.64), the community has been empowered (4.55), led to cultural and social exchange (4.45), revitalization of community pride (4.27), improved security (3.75) and Human wildlife resolution (3.71)
4.2.7 Contribution of Tourism Development to Natural Capital
The study sought to assess the environmental benefits from tourism development. Likert scale was used where: 5= strongly agree 4= agree 3= undecided 2= disagree 1= strongly disagree. They indicated as shown in table 4.7;
Table 4.7 Environmental benefits
Mean SD
Environmental awareness 4.21 0.562
Conservation of natural resources 3.86 0.982
Controlled construction of structures 4.20 0.580
Water resource management 4.17 0.701
Fighting Charcoal burning 3.93 0.873
Source: (SPSS Output, 2015)
The environmental benefits due to the tourism development were controlled construction of structures (4.20), environmental awareness (4.21), water resource management (4.17), fighting charcoal burning (3.93) and conservation of natural resources (3.86)
4.3 Regression Analysis
Regression analysis was done to estimate the relationship between tourism livelihood activities and economic benefits of the tourism development. The findings are shown in table 4.8 below;
Table 4.8: Regression Analysis
Model Summary
Model R R Square Adjusted R Square Std. Error of the Estimate Change Statistics
R Square Change F Change df
1 df2 Sig. F Change
1 .653a .427 .248 .436 .427 2.383 5 73 .085
Source: (SPSS Output, 2015)
Regression analysis revealed a positive relationship (R =0.427). The study also revealed that provision of school bursaries, medical support, support for local sports activities, provision of infrastructure and super structure, provision of training programs, provision of employment and community based projects contributed to 73% of tourism development. The F value (2.383) changes are significant which implies that the model is fit and robust.
4.4 Correlation Analysis
Correlation analysis was done to establish the relationship between the tourism activity variable and economic development performance. The findings are shown in table 4.9;
Y = 6.126-0.158X1 +0.119X2 – 0.031X3 + 0.126X4 – 0.68X5 – 0.058X6 – 0.194X7 +ε
Where Y is the level of livelihood benefit agreement, and ε is the error term of the model.
X1 = Provision of training programs
X2 = Provision of infrastructure and super structure
X3 = Provision of training programs
X4 = Provide employment
X5 = Support for local sport activities
X6 = Provide school bursaries
X7 = Medical support
Table 4.9 Correlation
Model Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig.
B Std. Error Beta
1 (Constant) 6.126 1.282 4.779 .000
Provision of training programs -.158 .106 -.217 1.497 .140
Provision of infrastructure and super structure .119 .221 .099 .537 .593
Provision of training programs -.031 .294 -.016 .107 .915
Provide employment .126 .136 .272 .923 .359
Support for local sport activities -.068 .204 -.102 .335 .739
Provide school bursaries -.058 .104 -.098 .555 .581
Medical support -.194 .147 -.232 1.319 .192
Source: SPSS Output Data (2015)
Positive effect was reported on provision of training programs, Provision of infrastructure and super structure, Provision of training programs, Provide employment, Support for local sport activities Provide school bursaries, and medical support.
ANOVA test was carried out to determine whether level of tourism activity and tourism development were significant across the network at 95% confident level. The results are indicated in table 4.10
Table 4.10 Anova
ANOVAa
Model Sum of Squares df Mean Square F Sig.
1 Regression 12.028 7 1.718 6.256 .013(a)
Residual 26.009 8 3.251
Total 38.037 15
Source: SPSS Output, 2015)
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) consists of calculations that provide information about levels of variability within a regression model and form a basis for tests of significance. Correlation exist between the response and predictor variables if P-value < 0.05. As shown in table 4.10, P-Value = 0.013 < 0.05 indicated that there is enough evidence to support the alternative hypothesis, that there is a significant linear relationship between tourism activity and tourism development.
4.5 Interpretation of findings and Discussions
Results are consistent with DOT, (1995); ATSIC, (1996) who held that rural tourism facilitates expansion of complementary businesses such as service stations and new businesses are created to cater for tourist needs for hospitality services, recreational activities, and arts/crafts.
Analysis from focused group discussion revealed that the respondent were involved in sales of souvenirs. A majority of the respondents said that they use the income generated from tourism to buy basic needs, pay school fees, to buy cattle and invest back in the business. This implied that tourism development played a significant role in sustaining the livelihood of the community.
The respondents held that they have benefited economically from tourism through, generation of employment, improved infrastructure and super structure provide school bursaries, and provision of training programs.
Apart from economic benefits the respondents said that they benefited from tourism activities in that through tourism, their culture has been protected and also the community has been empowered in that at least the community earn a living through culture, also through tourism, natural resources in the community which serves as a main asset to generate livelihood has been conserved. In addition, due to rampant un employment rate, most educated people in the village who are economically active and able bodied have taken tourism activities such as entertainment sale of souvenirs as an employment opportunity rather than increasing congestion in towns and cities. Therefore tourism development has become a refuge for rural dwellers.
Tourism is as much a social driver as an economic one, and meeting and socializing with people is the main reason for remaining in the tourism business. Bendix, (1994) study supports the research findings, in his study he found out that German farming families who offer vacations on the farm experience, social relationships with tourists that transgress touristic encounters and exchanges so that meaningful relationships, and often friendships, result from the interaction with tourists. Likewise, Macbeth, (1997) held that meaningful social exchanges are in part dependent on the nature of the rural lifestyle and the low numbers of tourists. And that indigenous tourism operator often cite teaching aboriginal culture to visitors and the opportunities for cultural exchange and to meet new people as the most valuable aspects of being in tourism. The visitors they interact with want to meet “real Australia†(DOT, 1995; ATSIC, 1996).
Study by Huang et al., (1996) agrees with the findings. In their study they found out that tourism encourages conformity to an ideal image of community, which can result in growth of personal ties and community solidarity. Thus the basis for community solidarity shifts from shared cultural background to shared image. Betz, (1993) Prideaux et al., (1997) also support the findings that enhances community pride as amenities play a fundamental role in shaping a community’s identity and pride and so the potential of tourism for improvements to facilities and amenities has positive implications for community pride, particularly rural museums as an important repository of rural culture. Similarly, Garcia-Ramon et al., (1995) held that the involvement of women in rural tourism in Spain resulted in stronger sensitivity to their environment and heightened interest in maintaining the aesthetic values of their region; this implied that tourism development is critical in enhancing the community pride.
Report from UNEP, (1992) support the results that tourism has the potential to increase public appreciation of the environment and to spread awareness of environmental problems when it brings people into closer contact with nature and the environment. The tourism industry can play a key role in providing environmental information and raising awareness among tourists of the environmental consequences of their actions. Tourists and tourism-related businesses consume an enormous quantity of goods and services; moving them toward using those that are produced and provided in an environmentally sustainable way, could have an enormous positive impact on the planet’s environment.
Findings concur with Leonard & Carson, (1997) whose study revealed that tourism can help justify and pay for conservation of nature parks, outdoor recreation and conservation areas as attractions which otherwise might be allowed to deteriorate ecologically. In the same way, Sunlu (2003) stated that tourism can significantly contribute to environmental protection, conservation and restoration biological diversity and sustainable use of natural resources. Because of their attractiveness, pristine sites and natural areas are identified as valuable and the need to keep the attraction alive can lead to creation of national parks and wildlife parks.
Chapter five
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Introduction
This chapter summarizes the major findings of the study. This study sought to find out contribution of rural tourism development to community livelihoods in Mara triangle, Kenya. In addition, this chapter provides a direction for further studies and gives some recommendations for policy making by the relevant authorities. Questionnaires were used to gather primary data. The questionnaires comprised of both closed and open-ended questions and were strictly administered by the researcher. Both primary and secondary information was used to determine the findings of the study.
5.2 Summary of Findings
This study identifies the tourism livelihood activities for the Mara triangle residents. Majority of the respondents were on formal employment in the conservancy, informal employment in the conservancy, employed in community tourism project, involved in cultural entertainment, and involved in the sales of souvenir. The study also sought to assess the economic benefits from tourism development. The results show that the residents have benefited economically from tourism through provision of employment, improved infrastructure and super structure, provision of school bursaries, provision of training programs, community based projects, medical support and support for local sport activities.