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Nature interpretation has been advocated as a soft and non-obtrusive on-site visitor management strategy to enhance visitor knowledge and understanding of the resource, mitigate visitor impacts, encourage the conservation and improvement of attraction areas, and assist visitors in enjoying their visit. However, the way in which nature interpretatio...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... study was conducted in MMNR, one of the most visited reserves in Kenya. For instance, in 2018, MMNR received over 291,017 visitors, as shown in Table 1, and a total of about 62,719 safaris (tour) jeeps carrying them [77]. MMNR covers an area of 1510 Kms 2 and teams up with vastly diverse populations of big game; herbivores, carnivores, birdlife, and plants that breathe life over its rolling landscape. ...Context 2
... study was conducted in MMNR, one of the most visited reserves in Kenya. For instance, in 2018, MMNR received over 291,017 visitors, as shown in Table 1, and a total of about 62,719 safaris (tour) jeeps carrying them [77]. MMNR covers an area of 1510 Kms 2 and teams up with vastly diverse populations of big game; herbivores, carnivores, birdlife, and plants that breathe life over its rolling landscape. ...Similar publications
PID controllers are the most widely used because of its advantages of simple design and implementation. However, the controllers produce high overshoot at the initial stage and experience derivative kick effects during the set-point change. On the other hand, the pressure process is highly nonlinear such that its control with PID without modificati...
Citations
... Recent research links lessons and restrictions imposed by the pandemic to the opportunity that the tourism industry now has to shift to a circular sustainable business. More and more attention is paid to the relationship with Mother Nature, and to finding ways to avoid environmental and social impacts in all possible tourist activities and processes starting from the design stage, according to circular economy principles (Juma et al., 2020). New trends in sustainable tourism that started to gain importance, especially with COVID restrictions and concerns are staycation and slow tourism, both implying spending more time to appreciate local or neighboring nature and offerings than simply traveling at speed (Al-Muhannadi et al., 2021). ...
Qatar FIFA 2022 was the first FIFA Football World Cup to be hosted by an Arab state and was predicted by some to fail. However, it did not only succeed but also showed a new display of destination sustainability upon hosting mega-sport events and linked tourism. Yet, some impacts tend to be long-term and need further analysis. The study aims to understand both positive and negative impacts on destination sustainability resulting from hosting mega-sport events, using bibliometric analysis of published literature during the last forty-seven years, and reflecting on the recent World Cup 2022 tournament in Qatar. A total of 2519 sources containing 665 open-access articles with 10,523 citations were found using the keywords “sport tourism” and “mega-sport”. The study found various literature researching the economic impacts in-depth, less on environmental impacts, and much less on social and cultural impacts on host communities. Debates exist in the literature concerning presumed economic benefits and motivations for hosting, and less on actual results achieved. Although World Cup 2022 is considered the most expensive among previous versions, destination sustainability seems to have benefited from the event’s hosting. Socio-cultural impacts of hosting mega-sport events seem to be addressed to an extent in the Qatar version of the World Cup, as well as environmental impacts while creating a unique image for FIFA 2022 and the destination itself. FIFA showcased this as using carbon-neutral technologies to create the micro-climate including perforated walls in the eight state-of-the-art stadiums, with the incorporation of a circular modular design for energy and water efficiency and zero-waste deconstruction post-event. The global event also drew attention and respect to the local community and underprivileged groups such as people with disabilities. Further research is needed to understand the demand-side perspective including the local community of Qatar and the event’s participants, and to analyze the long-term impacts and lessons learned from the Qatari experience.
... Occupying the niche of educational tourism management in the Rammangrammang Karst Area, this study outlines its purpose to assess the implementation and effectiveness of various educational strategies. The findings underscore a robust framework encompassing the establishment of Visitor Centers for direct visitor engagement, guided tours led by knowledgeable local guides, and strategically positioned directional and warning signage to enhance navigation and safety (Alubel et al., 2021;Della Lucia et al., 2021;Enseñat-Soberanis et al., 2019;Juma et al., 2020;Qaddhat et al., 2021;Selvaag et al., 2020). Moreover, the study identifies deficiencies such as the limited availability of interpretative signage in multiple languages and the absence of printed and digital collateral like brochures, maps, and smartphone apps, which are crucial for enhancing visitor experiences and educational outreach. ...
... Directional and warning signage is strategically placed both inside and outside the area to facilitate navigation and ensure visitor safety. In the dimension of Education Management Strategies, visitor management techniques are employed to enhance educational tourism experiences, as outlined by (Alubel et al., 2021;Amirullah & Ridwan, 2021;Della Lucia et al., 2021;Enseñat-Soberanis et al., 2019;Juma et al., 2020;Petric & Mandic, 2018;Qaddhat et al., 2021;Selvaag et al., 2020;Tan & Law, 2016). These include establishing Visitor Centers to provide direct visitor information, guided tours for in-depth guidance, and directional and warning signage for navigation and safety. ...
Tourist destinations in ecologically sensitive areas face significant challenges in balancing visitor management with conservation efforts. The Rammang-Rammang Karst Area in Maros District, part of the proposed UNESCO Global Geopark Maros-Pangkep, exemplifies these challenges. This study investigates current visitor management strategies in Rammang-Rammang, focusing on physical, regulatory, economic, and educational approaches. Methodologically, the research employs a qualitative descriptive analysis through a case study approach. Data collection includes on-site observations, interviews with key stakeholders such as local tourism authorities, Geopark management, community-based tourism groups, and tour guides, supplemented by document analysis. Triangulation of data ensures reliability and validity. Key findings highlight the effectiveness of existing strategies in managing visitor impacts on both the environment and local culture. Challenges identified include inadequate infrastructure and inconsistent enforcement of regulations. Educational initiatives show promise in raising visitor awareness but require enhancement. The study concludes by recommending integrated strategies that strengthen regulatory frameworks, improve infrastructure, and enhance visitor education to achieve sustainable tourism practices in Rammang-Rammang. This research contributes insights applicable to similar karst landscapes globally, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches that harmonize conservation goals with socio-economic benefits. By addressing these challenges comprehensively, this study aims to support the long-term sustainability and resilience of ecotourism in Rammang-Rammang and comparable geological formations worldwide.
... The study of infringements has recently come to the fore in the literature. Due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19, several publications and studies have been published on the topic of the investigation of epidemiological non-compliance (Ambrus and Hollán, 2020;Balázs and Hoffman, 2020;Juma et al., 2020;Hollán, 2020). ...
... The other so-called classical area is the group of traffic offences, which examines offences from the law enforcement side, mainly from the perspective of traffic accidents (Ambrus and Hollán, 2020;Balázs and Hoffman, 2020;Juma et al., 2020;Hollán, 2020). ...
This study examines the spatial distribution and structure of traffic offences in the Northern Great Plain region. The research is unique in that it examines a specific area through the lens of geography. The research shows and demonstrates that the research area of crime and transport geography is much broader than previous researches has shown. At the beginning of the study, the authors clarified the conceptual framework, as the terms “violation” and “offence” are often confused even in technical materials. The research shows which routes are the most frequently used by road hauliers in the regions under study and what type of checks have been carried out on these routes by the Transport Authorities of the Government Offices. The type of administrative penalty detected and the nationality breakdown of the infringements are described. The study typifies the infringements involving administrative fines by nationality category.
... The Maasai pastoral lifestyle over the years also ensured a peaceful coexistence with wildlife [73]. As anticipated by the local government, the number of tourists visiting the Mara has increased significantly since 1992, with 291,017 visitors recorded in 2018 [78]. ...
Indigenous Communities residing inside or next to autochthonal forests conserved them through governance frameworks that invoked traditional sacral law and reverence for their resource commons. More recently, however, the link between communities and forest conservation has been mired by dynamics of dispossession and displacement. Through a qualitative case study approach, using key informant interviews, transect walks, focus groups, and interviews, the researchers explore the conservation dynamics in Loita, in the South of Kenya, specifically looking at the sacred Enaimina Enkiyio forest. The study evaluated how the Loita community has challenged two state initiatives predicating conservation efforts and mobilised the sacred to conserve their resource commons. It combines a social-ecological approach with social innovation theory, spiritual geography, cultural studies and literature on indigenous knowledge systems, looking at, among others, sacred values attributed to places, nature–culture relationships, and value and belief systems and rituals. The findings point to the embeddedness of the forest resource in the way of life of the Loita Maasai and the appropriation of the ritual/sacred element as a framework to negotiate and mediate access, use, and conservation outcomes. The Loita community is grappling with and responding to the pressures exerted by various forces on the Loita Enaimina Enkiyio in socially innovative ways, as exemplified in the conservation efforts by the Ilkimpa Community Conservation Association (ICCA). It leverages aspects of the sacred in negotiating its claims over the Enaimina Enkiyio forest, showing that community-driven initiatives present alternative approaches capable of maintaining the connection between communities and their resource commons by integrating the sacred in this connection.
... These results agreed with findings from other scholars (Ching et al., 2019;D'Antonio & Monz, 2016;Marschall et al., 2017;Švajda et al., 2018). These were endorsements of the role NI had in positively shaping the behaviour of wildlife viewers, as supported by earlier research (Juma et al., 2020;Xu & Fox, 2014) On the other hand, negative attitudes were minimal. These NI made wildlife viewers observe visitor codes and directional signage and enlightened respondents about nature and wildlife ( Figure 4.8). ...
... Large wildlife like zebras, elands, buffalos and elephants were easily spotted from far, given their size and behaviour Juma et al., 2020;MMWCA, 2022). However, the lions, leopards, and rhinos were more elusive and thus highly sought by wildlife viewers because they easily camouflaged in the grass and scrub bush (Farr et al., 2019;Ghosh et al., 2019;Juma & Khademi-Vidra, 2022). ...
... It has been a common challenge, especially for the big cats and in the high season months in savannah parks and reserves (CGN, 2020;Green et al., 2019;the Republic of Kenya, 2013). In such a scenario, ranger patrols and strict enforcement with punitive measures will suffice in the short term, especially during the high tourism months and morning hours when this menace is rife (Bhandari, 2014;Juma et al., 2020). However, in the long term, tour guide retraining and awareness creation can be critical strategies (Verbos et al., 2018). ...
High visitation to destinations generates revenue but also threatens the sustainability of tourism's natural resources. NI has been employed as a non-obtrusive visitor management technique using tour guides, maps, information centres, and orientation signs to convey information while recognising its impact on protected areas and tourist activities and behaviour (Haring (2014). However, the effectiveness of NI is rarely monitored. Many parties with varied goals apply NI in diverse ways as a visitor management approach complicates the situation. Thus given the vastness of MMNR, does NI regulate visitor and driver-guide behaviour in MMNR?
This study investigated how the demographics of wildlife viewers affected MMNR behaviour (Ho1). The mixed correlations between wildlife viewer demographics and behaviour variables partially supported the hypothesis. Most of these findings were weak and marginal, and the hypothesis was largely partially not rejected. Wildlife viewers supported NI efforts correlated with the type of vehicle used, gender, nationality, the month of visit, and education level. On the hand, wildlife viewers supported NI efforts that did not correlate with age and the purpose of the visit. A very weak relationship was established between the type of vehicle used and gender versus wildlife viewers' financial support for conservation areas. Nationality and the purpose of the visit influenced wildlife viewers to get a satisfying experience after interacting with NI. Age, the month of visit, education level, nationality, gender, and the type of vehicle used did not influence wildlife viewers' ability to get a satisfying experience after interacting with NI. Consequently, where no corretation existed, the null hypothesis was not rejected, and correlations existed alternate accepted.
The second hypothesis tested how tour guide competence and wildlife viewer behaviour. Mainly weak correlations were yielded. All wildlife viewers’ behaviour attributes correlated with all the tour guide competency attributes, and thus the null hypothesis was rejected. These behaviour attributes were that wildlife viewers were more enlightened about nature and wildlife, acted responsibly not to impact attractions, observed visitor codes and directional signage, supported NI efforts, financially supported conservation areas and got a satisfying experience. The only exception was the paired correlation between wildlife viewers supported NI efforts versus tour guides requiring regular interpretation training and sensitisation that did not correlate and thus the null hypothesis was not rejected. Despite these modest and very weak connections, the study results agreed somewhat with past research, thus, respondents recommended a new training programme. The third objective was to establish how non-personal forms of NI affect the behaviour of wildlife viewers. All wildlife viewers’ behaviour attributes correlated with non-personal NI attributes are strategically located, appropriate, visible, easy to read and understand, and communicated to tourists by tour guides. These behaviour attributes were that wildlife viewers were more enlightened about nature and wildlife, acted responsibly not to impact attractions, observed visitor codes and directional signage, supported NI efforts, financially supported conservation areas and got a satisfying experience. On the other hand, too many non-personal forms of NI did not correlate with wildlife viewers acting responsibly not to impact attractions, observing visitor codes and directional signage, supporting NI efforts or getting a satisfying experience.
The fourth hypothesis was establishing spatial viewing behaviour patterns amongst wildlife viewers at MMNR. Observations month, observation time, number of tourists in the group, number of vehicles at a sighting, overcrowding at a sighting, wildlife category, estimated distance from the wildlife, duration at a sighting, driver respects other reserve users, off-road driving in restricted areas, harass wild animals had weak correlations amongst themselves. The null hypothesis was thus largely rejected, with the major exception being the observation attributes wildlife viewers litter and hooting/ making noise which did not correlate. Thus the null hypothesis was not rejected. Largely, there were spatial behaviour patterns exhibited by wildlife viewers at MMNR. The research recommended that MMNR develop and diligently implement a management plan and consolidate its operational management. Persistence in implementing NI programmes, road and trail signage; digitizing NI and visitor information, building and equipping information centres, providing nature interpretive infrastructure, monitoring and enforcement for compliance. Lastly, legislate and ensure tour guides are association-regulated and mainstream competency-based evaluation methodology for non-trained tour guides.
... belief and attitude) are also effective in influencing visitors' intention and behaviour (Kortenkamp et al. 2021). Another study on nature interpretation also demonstrated the influence of tourists' attitudes generated by interpretive products and services in enhancing visitors' experience, satisfaction and support for wildlife conservation (Juma et al. 2020). ...
Interpretive exhibits are widely used to convey conservation messages and promote sustainable recreation activities in the forests through interpretive content and design of the exhibits. However, literature hardly indicates the effectiveness of the contents and design utilised in exhibits to deliver such messages to visitors. Research has primarily focused on the effect of interpretive exhibits in enhancing visitors' knowledge and experience during the visit rather than the effect of the exhibits' design and contents on visitors' affective and psychological aspects. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of the interpretive exhibit in influencing university students' intention to participate in birdwatching. A quasi-experimental research design was employed to compare the effectiveness of non-interpretive (control group) and interpretive exhibits (intervention group) in influencing students' intention to participate in birdwatching. The interpretive exhibit was designed based on students' salient beliefs and affect elicited during the interview. Data was collected using a questionnaire from 119 university students. Findings showed that the interpretive exhibit had a significant influence on students' birdwatching intention compared to the non-interpretive exhibit. The interpretive exhibit also had a significant influence on students' affective responses toward birds and birdwatching. Besides, results from the regression test showed a significant relationship between students' affective responses and their intention to participate in birdwatching. Thus, interpretive elements incorporated in the new interpretive exhibit design contributed to the success of influencing students' intention to participate in birdwatching.
... Tourism is a major contributor to the national economy, and wildlife tourism in protected areas (PAs) significantly contributes to tourism activities (Korir et al., 2013;Odunga & Maingi, 2011). Kenya's wildlife-based tourism has witnessed a significant increase in the number of tourists and revenue, ecosystem destruction, and conflicts among tourism stakeholders (Juma et al., 2020;Oduor, 2020). In Kenya, PAs were carved out of lands that were inhabited by pastoral communities. ...
This study examines destination attributes through tourist reviews in the Maasai Mara ecosystem using the Kano model. Overall, positive reviews were dominant, and most tourists were satisfied with the Mara wildlife tourism experiences. However, some attributes led to dissatisfaction. The highest contribution to tourist satisfaction was due to excitement attributes such as witnessing the great migration of the wildebeest. Attributes such as safety and service-related aspects also negatively affected tourist satisfaction. The findings are useful to promote sustainable wildlife tourism by government, private industry, and community-based tourism organizations.
... Other studies reported on the tour guides' compliance with ecotourism principles (Sirakaya & McLellan, 1998), and engagement in interpretation (Ababneh, 2017). Some studies examined the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of visitors (Cook, Cook et al., 2019;Hofman & Hughes, 2017;Juma et al., 2020), visitor segmentation (Chen, Hwang & Lee, 2006), tour guiding quality assurance system (Ap & Wong, 2001;Huang & Weiler, 2010), and perceptions and behaviour of tour guides (Kong, 2014). Despite these appreciable advances in tour guiding scholarship, there have been relatively few studies examining visitor satisfaction based on the evaluation of the value and performance of tour guides' roles (See Ap & Wong, 2001;Black & Ham, 2005;Littlejohn et al., 2016;Zhang & Chow, 2004). ...
... Source: Weiler and Black (2015) satisfaction Weiler & Black, 2015). Particularly, they are the vital link between ecotourism and visitors because of their roles contribute to increased knowledge, satisfaction, attitudes and behaviour modification in visitors (Hofman & Hughes, 2017;Juma et al., 2020;Kong, 2014). The literature suggests that the performance of tour guides positively affect visitor satisfaction with pro-place behaviours, such as return visitation and recommendations to others. ...
National parks are global cornerstones supporting not only biodiversity conservation but also educational and recreational opportunities. Based on these opportunities, ecotourism has gained wide application in national parks as a sustainable form of tourism, providing visitors with recreational and educational opportunities to garner support for biodiversity conservation. Tour guides play vital roles to support these opportunities whiles ensuring appropriate behaviours and attitudes of visitors in the park. The performance of these roles potentially influences visitors’ satisfaction, which has the potential to ensure repeat visits, referrals, and financial success of national parks and other protected areas. However, the literature indicates limited studies examining visitor satisfaction with tour guiding. Therefore, this paper investigated visitors’ perceptions of the importance and performance of the roles of tour guides in order to identify areas needing management interventions to improve visitor satisfaction. Using convenient sampling, questionnaires were administered to 200 visitors to rate the importance and performance of a set of role attributes of tour guiding. The data were subjected to descriptive, gap and grid analyses. The results showed that there were role attributes that were important to the experiences sought by visitors. Also, some attributes were identified that required management intervention and re-allocation of resources to improve visitor satisfaction.
... The nature and specification of the item always influence the interpretation (for example, in the case of Heritage Interpretation, cultural heritage contents). Some past research efforts on natural interpretation primarily focused on visitor management [31][32][33]. As described by some scholars, nature interpretation is an educational activity that seeks to uncover meanings and relationships through objects, media, or personal experiences rather than just transmitting information [31,34,35]. ...
... Nature interpretation packages and conveys messages as a visitor management strategy while considering the potential influence on protected areas and tourists, according to Ham & Sandberg and Ham et al. [32]. As evidenced by rules of conduct, exhibit boards, maps, and directional signs, nature interpretation have personal and non-personal components [33]. This study emphasizes natural interpretation-from a didactic standpoint-and places a premium on subjective, individual perception of the learning experience in a constantly changing natural context. ...
... And the broad objectives were to check (the behaviour of those entering the area, influence (visitor decisions), to reduce the impact of tourists on the environmental effect. A previous paper by Juma et al. [33] focused on the importance of tour guiding, visitor codes, visitor information centres, display boards, and orientation signage in the process of nature interpretation. In Table 1 below, the study summarises each technique's strengths and weaknesses in the context of the current research. ...
Various scholars have endorsed contemporary visitor management strategies broadly categorized as hard or soft approaches. The hard strategies like area closure, penalties, patrols, or limiting access have been deemed punitive and restrictive to visitors seeking escape into natural environments. On the other hand, nature interpretation (NI) and general conservation information, christened as soft strategy, are pushed as complementary or alternative non-obstructive visitor management tactics. However, these arguments notwithstanding, questions linger about the choice of appropriate NI strategies, their application, and their effectiveness. This study sought to establish which NI and visitor information approaches can be used be to manage visitors by target group effectively at the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. Data was collected by surveying n = 570 respondents that constituted visitors (n = 413) and tour guides (n = 157) participating in wildlife tourism at MMNR over six months. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to present and analyze data with spearman's correlation used for testing the relationships to answer the research question. Study results established mixed results with different NI attributes comprising a few weak, some very weak, and the majority no correlations with the respondents' demographics. The month of the visit and type of vehicle used had very weak negative correlations with attributes of NI, generally implying inverse relationships. Nationality and gender had the least correlations, while the month of visit and the purpose of the visit had the highest number of correlations with, the latter having slightly stronger correlations. Display boards and orientation signage had the highest number of very weak and weak correlations with nearly all the respondents' demographics except nationality and gender. Visitor codes/do's and don'ts followed with tour guiding with no correlations with almost all the demographics. The study recommends continuous improvement of all NI approaches at the MMNR, with urgency being given to display boards and orientation signage followed by visitor codes and tour guiding, as evidenced from findings. The study further recommends research on contemporary trends in NI and conservation education and information dissemination .
... A key factor for prosperous tourism industry is the capability to identify and handle the change and interactions across a wide range of impacting determinants (Dwyer et al, 2009, Imbeah et al, 2020, Juma et al, 2020. Numerous factors should be considered in the macroenvironment to describe all the variables affecting the market; however, demographic changes impact directly the volume and structure of the demand and thereby labour market (e.g., number and qualification of employees) (Grimm, 2009). ...
Generation Z travellers, who typically do not yet have their own income, constitute the youngest group of tourism demand, who are often ignored by destination management organizations or tourism service providers. However, they play a key role in shaping consumer demand and act as drivers of developments in destinations. Generation Z is almost redefining what it means to travel - their unique needs and specific destination preferences can set the future direction of tourism development. All of these findings provide a basis for conducting primary data collection by involving the members of the generation in a questionnaire survey in order to learn about the relationship of the Hungarian respondents (N=212 people) with IT, their travel habits, the method of financing their trips, and their communication preferences. Based on the results obtained, the characteristics of the future demand for rural destinations, expectations and preferences for the range of expected services and experiences emerge. All of this helps in shaping the future direction of tourism development in rural destinations.
