Regional Tourism Policy Coordination Affecting Ecotourism Development

The politics of Serengeti-Mara ecosystem are centered on revenue sharing dilemma between Kenya and Tanzania that share this ecosystem. Despite the existence of East African Community Treaty which spells out how coordination of tourism activities is important for growth of ecotourism, rivalry between Kenya and Tanzania over revenue accrued from foreign activities in this ecosystem has compromised the development of ecotourism. This means that the EAC treaty on tourism lacks a fundamental supranational organization to deal with issues of economics of ecotourism development in shared ecosystems like Serengeti-Mara. The need to open up diplomatic channels on formation and revision of the treaty on tourism clause is critical for ecotourism development thereof. With a robust supranational organization specifically on cross-border tourism, issues of revenue sharing and coordination of tourism activities may support ecotourism development in Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.