Although the MMNR has enjoyed a tourism boom in
recent years, tourists and the tourism industry arenotoriously
fickle, and it will not take much for the Reserve to lose its
status as a destination of choice, andfor tourists to head
elsewhere. Many of these trends in the global industry are driven
by intense competitiobetween tourism destinations, such that the
Mara is not only competing with its neighbours like the Serengeti,
but also with destinations further a field in Africa, and even in
other parts of the world, such as south Asia and South America. All
these destinations are working very hard to develop an edge over
their competitors, by differentiating themselves with additional
attractions, more luxury, or simply good
marketing.
Much of the ideas and effort to maintain the
differentiation and edge of the MMNR over its competitors must, of
course, come from the tourism industry itself, and in this regard a
great deal has been done in recent years to upgrade the standard of
accommodation and the quality of the guides and transportation
provided in the Reserve. However, the Reserve’s management
and this management plan also have an important role to play, by
improving the infrastructure provided in the Reserve, and by
setting and promoting standards for the MMNR tourism product. Of
particular relevance in this regard are the environmental and
ecotourism standards of accommodation in the Reserve. Done right,
these standards have significant potential to uplift the quality
and reputation of the MMNR’s tourism product and, not
unrelated, to reduce the impacts of accommodation facilities on the
natural environment. Done wrong, or with no standards at all, the
Mara Reserve is likely to be left far behind by other tourism
destinations, and gradually forsaken by increasingly discerning and
environmentally conscious visitors.
An important guiding principle of this programme,
therefore, is to initiate a process of introducing environmental
and ecotourism accommodation standards in the Reserve, such that
the MMNR is seen as a world leader and destination of choice in
this regard. One way this management plan will catalyse this
process is through the development of several new ecolodges and
ecocamps in the low use areas of the Reserve. Besides being a
driving force in developing the Reserve’s environmental and
ecotourism credentials, these new facilities will further
consolidate the development of the MMNR’s premium tourism
product in the MMNR, and boost the economic potential of the low
use areas.
