The WTO (1993) defines sustainable tourism as ‘meeting the needs of the present tourists and host regions whilst protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future.’ It also illustrates that sustainable development strategies must stress the need for due regard to be given to the ‘long-term appropriate use of natural and human resources’. Essentially, in order to achieve sustainability in tourism, the long term effects and impacts need to be assessed over the mass market. By developing sustainable forms of tourism in some areas, other areas that may be affected as a result of this are simply ignored. As Klemm (1992) suggests, ‘the real challenge for the future it to provide sustainable tourism for the mass market’. As the mass market is not given enough consideration in the early development stages of a countries tourism industry, this often contributes to the long-term problems associated with tourism development.
Some tourism academics (Middleton & Hawkins, 1998, p.247) argue that sustainability in tourism is generally an aspiration or goal, rather than a measure of an achievable objective. What this essay will outline is the extent to which Kenya has been affected culturally, economically and environmentally as a result of tourism