Effect of Post-Election Violence on the Perfomance of Tourism Industry. A Critical Literature Review

Abstract

Purpose: A free and transparent electioneering process ideally shuns violence, 21 corruption and other vices encouraging the flourishing of economic activities including tourism leading to a vibrant tourism sector. The general objective of the study was to examine effect of post-election violence on the performance of tourism industry in Kenya.

Methodology: The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes and to extract knowledge gaps.

Findings: The study concluded that election violence affects movement of people within the country, people movements are restricted during the campaigns, local and international members of the fourth estate give prominence to negative news during this period scaring both domestic and international tourist’s arrivals and that people prefer staying in familiar places and fear travelling when there is election violence.

Recommendations: The study recommends that the Kenyan security infrastructure should regain civilian confidence: by cultivating citizen-police relations to tame the prevailing account of fear and apathy. This can be worked on and transformed into more justifiable national confidence on the security agencies and a platform created for mutual engagement. This relationship is crucial in helping the security agencies in controlling crime and being able to mitigate the security challenges arising during elections. This way the tourism industry will benefit in terms of enjoying a peaceful environment before, during and after general elections in the country. Once this relationship is built on trust, the police will be able to manage effectively all issues