Impacts of climate change induced flooding on tourism investments and local livelihoods in the Samburu region, Kenya

Abstract

Tourism and climate change have been widely related. Climate change induced flooding is of serious concern because it causes financial and economic losses for investors in hotel and tourism industry. Flooding and drought are frequent environmental event in arid and semi arid ASALs) lands of Northern Kenya. It is rich in biodiversity hence considered important for wildlife conservation and a major tourist destination. It is important in the Kenyan economy as it supports valuable economic activities including tourism and nomadic pastoralism. The region witnessed several climate change induced flooding which caused damage to tourism infrastructure and local livelihoods. The study therefore sorts to assess the economic effect of the climate-linked events on tourism activities. The study used questionnaires and face to face interviews to estimate the impacts of flooding on investments, revenue generation, household income and employment opportunities. The total economic value of the climate induced flooding in the Samburu ecosystem as a tourist destination was about USD 11 billion. Loss in investments, revenue, employment was positively correlated to the increased flooding events. The significant losses from a tourism destination calls for immediate action for climate change adaptation and mitigation policy interventions in the region.