Slum Tourism in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya

This book provides insights into the development of slum tourism in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya. It explores the attitudes elicited by socio-economic impacts and ethical acceptability of the tours. Tourists are forsaking national parks, beaches and museums for crowded and filthy slums. While some people see it as exploitation of the worst kind where the poverty situation of the local residents is displayed as the main tourist attraction; others see it as generating valuable insight into how slum dwellers live. Mr. Magio observes that the manner in which these tours are organized is so restrictive that it limits the interactions between the residents and the slum tourists. In most cases, residents are dissatisfied with the level of benefits and admit that money from slum tourism goes to non-residents such as tour operators. The author opines that sustainability of slum tourism can only be achieved when the level of benefits and the interaction between the slum residents and the slum tourists is enhanced. He recommends the recognition of the slum tours by government authorities and the establishment of structures to coordinate the planning and execution of slum tourism programs.