Theme Parks and Contribution to Urban Tourism Development: A Case Study of City Cabannas, Village Market, Jolly Roger Theme Park, Splash Water World And The Rim Center.
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Date
2010-05
Authors
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Publisher
Kampala International University, bachelors degree in tourism and hotel management
Abstract
The main focus of the study is urban tourism development in Nairobi city with a special
attention to theme parks within the city. The study sought to identify and streamline the
various theme parks in Nairobi. Their roles in promoting urban tourism development and
the challenges and prospects of operating and sustaining such theme parks.
Precisely, the study was conducted through interactive visits to the study areas which arethe
City Cabannas, the village market, the Jolly Roger theme park, the Rim and splash
water world.
Qualitative and quantitative methodologies of research were invoked. Questionnaires
were presented to the respondents, interactive interviews and observations of the
respondents in situ were also employed.
It was found out that the theme parks are a paramount feature of urban tourism
development. The parks have provided a recreational and entertainment centre for the
visitors. The parks are socialization centers with a domestic family appeal also attracting
foreign tourists who visits them as complementary products to other tourism products. It
was also discerned that that the visitation of the parks is seasonal the parks receiving a
good turnover during the weekend and holidays. The location of the theme parks was also
strategic with the theme parks being situated along highways and outside the busy city
centers and also proximate to the airports and other tourists' attraction products.
The problems involved in the operation of the them parks were found varying with the
time of commencement of business and later on in the running of the parks. The problems
identified were: interrupted visitations, capital and maintenance funds, treatment costs for
example for pool water, poor marketing to reach out potential visitors, stiff competition
among the parks and other tourism products, lack of enough facilities but to mention a
few.
The various opportunities realized from the study are, the increased urban population,
supportive role played by theme parks to other tourism products, the strategic location of
the park, the diversification of other tourism products by the theme parks, the facilities in
the parks mostly are favorable for children entertainment.
Description
A Dissertation Submitted to School of Business and Management in Partial Fulfillment for the Award of Bachelor of Tourism Hotel Degree of Kampala International University
Keywords
Theme Parks, Urban Tourism Development, Jolly Roger Theme Park, The Rim Center