Tourism in Kenya's national parks: A cost-benefit analysis

East Africa is home to some of the most stunning wildlife in the world. With tourism in the region’s wildlife parks growing in popularity, it is imperative to evaluate the socioeconomic and environmental costs and benefits of this expanding industry. This study conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the various impacts that tourism has brought to Kenya’s national parks by monetarily valuating each impact. While the results of this cost-benefit analysis suggest that the benefits far outweigh the costs, even when non-measurable costs are considered, a number of fundamental issues must be addressed in order to improve the cost-benefit balance. The results are likely to be representative of the overall state of tourism in Kenya’s national parks and expose key areas where improvements can be made. Improvements to tourism in Kenya’s national parks can have positive implications for local people, the environment, wildlife species, tourists, and biodiversity conservation. Keywords: tourism; national parks; Kenya; cost-benefit analysis