United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), an agency within the United Nations, recently published a fascinating paper on the value of wildlife in Africa. Included below are excerpts from it - Towards measuring the economic value of Wildlife Watching tourism in Africa:
Serengeti - Ngorongoro Circuit, Tanzania
…“According to a study conducted in 2009, the southern circuit at Serengeti-Ngorongoro receives 300,000 tourists per year on the 300 km stretch between Arusha and Serengeti. The total inbound tourism expenditure generated at this destination is US$ 500 million per year, which is more than half of Tanzania’s foreign exchange earnings from tourism”….
Bird watching in South Africa
..."In 1997, a quantitative study on avitourism to South Africa conservatively estimated that the country received between 11,400 and 21,200 birdwatchers per year which contributed US$ 12 to 26 million to the South African economy (Turpie & Ryan, 1998; cited after Biggs et al., 2011)….. The development of birding tourism has been promoted by community projects supported by NGOs from the tourism sector. Currently, there are more opportunities for small business development along birding routes, which contributes to the creation of jobs for local communities (e.g., local birding guides) and supports conservation. (Biggs et al., 2011).”….
Economic impact of nature tourism in Zambia
…”The fiscal revenues generated in 2005 by international nature tourists visiting national parks were about US$ 5 to US$ 8 million, meaning that the revenues exceeded by far the US$ 1 million in funds allocated to the Zambia Wildlife Authority in the same year.”…
Mountain Gorillas in Uganda
…“In the Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda, mountain gorilla families that are accustomed to humans can be visited by small tourist groups for one hour with a special guide. The permit to visit a gorilla family costs between US$ 500 and 700 per person. The visits to a single gorilla family that attracts an average of 10 tourists in a day generates between US$ 5,000 and 7,500 per day. Over a year’s time, visits to this same family can generate up to about US$ 500,000 per year (visits are not made every day). The total income of gorilla visits in the Bwindi Forest National Park is about US$ 15 million per year. Additionally, a similar amount is spent by the tourists on accommodation, transport and other services. (Lengefeld, 2013).” …
Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara Tented Camp, Kenya
..."The tented camp Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara is located on the Masai Mara Nature Reserve in the remote western Mara in Kenya’s southwest. The main attractions are the year-round concentration of wildlife and the camp’s location on the route of the Great Migration. As it is a private concession land, bush walks and night drives are allowed. The tented camp offers considerable luxury for a maximum of 80 guests. The camp has about 200 employees, 70% of whom are locals
from the Masai Mara region. An average of 60% of the fruits, vegetables and other farm products that are consumed are obtained from local suppliers. The camp also supports local schools, reforestation, environmental education, health, and anti-AIDS programmes. The camp generates total annual revenues of US$ 8 to 10 million, of which US$ 1.5 million is paid directly to local communities for the lease fee, salaries and purchases of local products. (Lengefeld, 2013)."...
Serengeti - Ngorongoro Circuit, Tanzania
…“According to a study conducted in 2009, the southern circuit at Serengeti-Ngorongoro receives 300,000 tourists per year on the 300 km stretch between Arusha and Serengeti. The total inbound tourism expenditure generated at this destination is US$ 500 million per year, which is more than half of Tanzania’s foreign exchange earnings from tourism”….
Bird watching in South Africa
..."In 1997, a quantitative study on avitourism to South Africa conservatively estimated that the country received between 11,400 and 21,200 birdwatchers per year which contributed US$ 12 to 26 million to the South African economy (Turpie & Ryan, 1998; cited after Biggs et al., 2011)….. The development of birding tourism has been promoted by community projects supported by NGOs from the tourism sector. Currently, there are more opportunities for small business development along birding routes, which contributes to the creation of jobs for local communities (e.g., local birding guides) and supports conservation. (Biggs et al., 2011).”….
Economic impact of nature tourism in Zambia
…”The fiscal revenues generated in 2005 by international nature tourists visiting national parks were about US$ 5 to US$ 8 million, meaning that the revenues exceeded by far the US$ 1 million in funds allocated to the Zambia Wildlife Authority in the same year.”…
Mountain Gorillas in Uganda
…“In the Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda, mountain gorilla families that are accustomed to humans can be visited by small tourist groups for one hour with a special guide. The permit to visit a gorilla family costs between US$ 500 and 700 per person. The visits to a single gorilla family that attracts an average of 10 tourists in a day generates between US$ 5,000 and 7,500 per day. Over a year’s time, visits to this same family can generate up to about US$ 500,000 per year (visits are not made every day). The total income of gorilla visits in the Bwindi Forest National Park is about US$ 15 million per year. Additionally, a similar amount is spent by the tourists on accommodation, transport and other services. (Lengefeld, 2013).” …
Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara Tented Camp, Kenya
..."The tented camp Kichwa Tembo Masai Mara is located on the Masai Mara Nature Reserve in the remote western Mara in Kenya’s southwest. The main attractions are the year-round concentration of wildlife and the camp’s location on the route of the Great Migration. As it is a private concession land, bush walks and night drives are allowed. The tented camp offers considerable luxury for a maximum of 80 guests. The camp has about 200 employees, 70% of whom are locals
from the Masai Mara region. An average of 60% of the fruits, vegetables and other farm products that are consumed are obtained from local suppliers. The camp also supports local schools, reforestation, environmental education, health, and anti-AIDS programmes. The camp generates total annual revenues of US$ 8 to 10 million, of which US$ 1.5 million is paid directly to local communities for the lease fee, salaries and purchases of local products. (Lengefeld, 2013)."...