Main Article Content
Abstract
Purpose: This study investigated the roles of handicraft industries in cultural tourism development in Machakos County. Machakos County is home to Kenya’s oldest and biggest handicraft industry. The handicraft industry comprises of wood carvers and basket weavers in Mwala and Yatta constituencies’.
Methodology: The study utilized qualitative research approach using an exploratory research design. The study population composed of wood carvers, craft cooperative officials and basket weavers drawn from two weavers’ community organizations in Machakos County. These are Yatta South Women Group and Muli Kyondo. The study employed unstructured interviews where focus group discussions, in-depth face to face interview were utilized to gather views directly from the respondents. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data.
Main findings: The findings of the research revealed that cultural resources have long been providing employment for the local community.
Implications: The study, therefore, recommends that both the national and local government should collaborate with the local community in development and planning of cultural resources so as to ensure sustainability of the industry. This would, in turn, increase the competitiveness of Machakos County as a tourist destination.
Novelty: Kenya’s tourism and in particular Machakos cultural tourism product plays a vital role both in the rural areas as well as in urban areas in ensuring sustainability of resources in a number of ways that include social-cultural, economic as well as environmental.
Keywords
Article Details
Authors retain the copyright without restrictions for their published content in this journal. IJTHR is a Sherpa Romeo Journal.
Publishing License
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of 
References
-
1. Akama J. (2002). The Creation of Maasai Image and Tourism Development. Development of Cultural Tourism in Kenya (p. 48). Mombasa: ATLAS.
2. Bendix, R. (2009). Heritage between Economy and Politics. In L. Smith, & N. Akagawa, Intangible Heritage: (pp. 253-269). New York: Routledge.
3. Bowitz, E., & Ibenhold, K. (2009). Economic Impact of Cultural Heritage Research and Perspective. Journals of Cultural Heritage 10, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2008.09.002
4. Clarke, A. (2008). Tourism Culture and Heritage: Developing Partnership for A Sustainable Future. Developing Partnership for A Sustainable Future, 7-8.
5. Dorothy, R. (2012). An Analysis of the Challenges Facing Cultural Tourism Development in Kenya. Research in Humanities and Social Sciences, 214.
6. GoK. (2013). Kenya Gazette Notice No. 3160. Nairobi: Government of Kenya.
7. Greg, R. (2002). Satisfying the Cultural Tourist: Challenges for New Millennium. Cultural Tourism in Africa Strategies for the new millennium (p. 36). Mombasa: Altlas.
8. Irandu, E., & Shah, P. (2016). Conservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage. Retrieved June Saturday, 2017, from HTTP://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.: http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1gxxpc6.17
9. Kibicho. (2002). Perceived Social Cultural Impacts: The Case of Malindi, Kenya. Cultural Tourism in Africa: Strategies for New Millennium (p. 120). Mombasa: ATLAS.
10. Mayaka, M. (2012). Tourism in Kenya Analysis of Strategic Issues and Challenges. Tourism Management Perspective, 54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2011.12.008
11. Mutinda, J. (2014). Assessment of the Impact of the Woodcarving Industry on the Environment. A study of Wamunyu Location, Mwala District, Kenya, 49.
12. Ogara Dinah, O. E. (2014). Impact of Cultural Industries on Urban Development: Case of Wamunyu Centre Machakos County. Nairobi: University of Nairobi.
13. Paurafkari, B (2009) A Comparative Study of Cultural Tourism Development in Iran and Turkey. Unpublished Masters Thesis. University of Isfahan. Iran
14. Rogerson, C. M. (2015). Setting Cultural Tourism In South Africa. Johannesburg: Nordic Journals of African Studies.
15. UNESCO. (2012). Unearthing the Gems of Culture. Mapping Excercise of Kenya's Creative Cultural Industries, 8.
16. World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). (2013). “Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2013 Sub Saharan Africaâ€, WTTC, London, U.K.
17. World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). (2018). “Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2018 Worldâ€, WTTC, London, U.K.
References
2. Bendix, R. (2009). Heritage between Economy and Politics. In L. Smith, & N. Akagawa, Intangible Heritage: (pp. 253-269). New York: Routledge.
3. Bowitz, E., & Ibenhold, K. (2009). Economic Impact of Cultural Heritage Research and Perspective. Journals of Cultural Heritage 10, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2008.09.002
4. Clarke, A. (2008). Tourism Culture and Heritage: Developing Partnership for A Sustainable Future. Developing Partnership for A Sustainable Future, 7-8.
5. Dorothy, R. (2012). An Analysis of the Challenges Facing Cultural Tourism Development in Kenya. Research in Humanities and Social Sciences, 214.
6. GoK. (2013). Kenya Gazette Notice No. 3160. Nairobi: Government of Kenya.
7. Greg, R. (2002). Satisfying the Cultural Tourist: Challenges for New Millennium. Cultural Tourism in Africa Strategies for the new millennium (p. 36). Mombasa: Altlas.
8. Irandu, E., & Shah, P. (2016). Conservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage. Retrieved June Saturday, 2017, from HTTP://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.: http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1gxxpc6.17
9. Kibicho. (2002). Perceived Social Cultural Impacts: The Case of Malindi, Kenya. Cultural Tourism in Africa: Strategies for New Millennium (p. 120). Mombasa: ATLAS.
10. Mayaka, M. (2012). Tourism in Kenya Analysis of Strategic Issues and Challenges. Tourism Management Perspective, 54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2011.12.008
11. Mutinda, J. (2014). Assessment of the Impact of the Woodcarving Industry on the Environment. A study of Wamunyu Location, Mwala District, Kenya, 49.
12. Ogara Dinah, O. E. (2014). Impact of Cultural Industries on Urban Development: Case of Wamunyu Centre Machakos County. Nairobi: University of Nairobi.
13. Paurafkari, B (2009) A Comparative Study of Cultural Tourism Development in Iran and Turkey. Unpublished Masters Thesis. University of Isfahan. Iran
14. Rogerson, C. M. (2015). Setting Cultural Tourism In South Africa. Johannesburg: Nordic Journals of African Studies.
15. UNESCO. (2012). Unearthing the Gems of Culture. Mapping Excercise of Kenya's Creative Cultural Industries, 8.
16. World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). (2013). “Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2013 Sub Saharan Africaâ€, WTTC, London, U.K.
17. World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). (2018). “Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2018 Worldâ€, WTTC, London, U.K.