Kibera Slum Tourism: A Study on the Impact of Tourism on Residents

This report delves into the phenomenon of Kibera slum tourism, focusing on its impact on residents and the ethical considerations surrounding it. The assignment highlights that while tourism provides an opportunity for tourists to experience the local culture, it often leads to the exploitation of the poor conditions. The report discusses the perspectives of the residents, who often feel their poverty is being used for entertainment. The assignment references sources like Aljazeera.com and explores the debate on whether slum tourism is a form of poverty voyeurism or a way to educate tourists about the reality of poverty. The report underscores the need to understand the social and ethical implications of such tourism practices and its long-term impacts on the community.

Running head: KIBERIA SLUM TOURISM
KIBERIA SLUM TOURISM
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1KIBERIA SLUM TOURISM
Kiberia is the largest slum in Nairobi and in the country Africa. Tourists these days do not want
to see fancy places when they travel rather they travel to experience the local culture and want to
see the ground reality of the country they travel in. This has paved way for tourists to come to
Kiberia and get an insight of the slums and how people live in this area. Many say it is a great
effort to see the reality where people live in extreme conditions and poverty that shows the
inequality that exists in the world.
However, people who dwell in the slums find it insulting and feel this is poverty voyeurism.
Many have expressed their discomfort as tourists do not appreciate and buy the art that locals
produce rather they take pictures of the poor condition (Aljazeera.com, 2019). There are shops
from where some local benefit but those are a mere amount that are not sufficient in the long run
has not benefited the slums and proves that it is a kind of an entertainment for the tourists that
are inhuman. Many tourists visit these places for the experience and educate themselves however
the locals feel their poor conditions are being exploited (Osman, 2019).

2KIBERIA SLUM TOURISM
Reference
Osman, J. (2019). On tour with the slum tourists in Kenya. Retrieved from
https://www.channel4.com/news/slum-tourism-poverty-kenya-kibera-africa-jamal-osman
Aljazeera.com. (2019). 'We are not wildlife': Kibera residents slam poverty tourism. Retrieved
from https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/wildlife-kibera-residents-slam-poverty-
tourism-180729135138893.html