Untitled

Kaabah
The Kaabah is a cube-shaped room in the centre
of the Masjid al-Haram, in Makkah �Mecca), Saudi
Arabia. It is also called God's House �Baituallah)
and destination �Qiblah), or the direction
towards which the Muslims worldwide face at
prayer times. The annual Hajj pilgrimage to this
holy site by Muslims from practically everywhere
generates millions of arrivals to Makkah. Saudi
Arabia has developed for this truly mega-event a
vast network of touristic infrastructure and
superstructure, which is underused for most parts
of the year outside the Hajj.
Kenya
SEMSO TANKOVIC, CROATIA
Kenya remains one of the most popular destinations
in Africa, with about 6 per cent of overseas
visitors to the continent. Since its independence in
1963, tourism has played a vital role for Kenya's
economic development as it greatly contributes
to the foreign exchange earnings and creates
wage employment of about 8 per cent. Growth
was rapid during the 1970s and 1980s, reaching a
record high of 863,400 foreign arrivals in 1994.
Since then, the growth has recorded some slight
decline.
Approximately one half of tourism development
is located in the coastal region and focused
on beach recreation. Wildlife viewing, particularly
in the popular parks and reserves of
K
Amboseli, Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Samburu
is a major tourism activity. Other attractions
include historical and archaeological sites, and the
diverse culture of the Kenyan people. The tourism
sector has experienced tremendous growth in
hotels, tours and travel agencies. By 1993, the
number of hotel bed-nights available reached
about 12 million with an average occupancy
rate of around 60 per cent. Most international
tourists arrive by air in Nairobi and Mombasa.
Besides Kenya Airways, the country is served by
forty international airlines and a dozen air
charter companies from Europe.
The quality of infrastructure for tourism, as
well as for general use, varies appreciably. Due to
rapid coastal hotel development, pressure on the
supply of water and electricity has recently been
experienced. The road network is fairly extensive.
Kenya Railways provides first-class service among
major towns, particularly between Nairobi and
Mombasa. Over the years, Europe has been the
major generator for tourists to Kenya, accounting
for 60 per cent of total arrivals. The government,
in conjunction with the private sector, has
intensified promotional activities in all major
tourist-generating markets, notably Western Europe
and North America. Since 1987, tourism has
been the leading foreign exchange earner in the
country, with a value of $436 million �about 33 per
cent of total exports in 1993).
The policy of allowing inclusive tour charter
operations is controversial in terms of the overall
benefits such tourists generate to the country, when
compared to the impacts of mass tourism.
Kenya's general tourism development strategy over