Effect of Hijackings on Sustainable Tourism in Lamu County, Kenya

Abstract

Lamu County is an important cultural and historical tourism destination in Kenya, but persistent terrorism-related security threats, particularly hijackings, continue to undermine the performance and sustainability of its tourism sector. Such incidents may reduce tourist confidence and arrivals, constrain business profitability, increase operational costs, and disrupt the livelihoods of communities dependent on tourism. This study examined the effect of hijackings on sustainable tourism in Lamu County, Kenya, guided by Social Conflict Theory. A descriptive research design was adopted. The study targeted 240 tourism-related stakeholders and sampled 72 respondents, including local business owners, tour operators, government officials, community-based organizations, and Beach Management Unit members. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The findings showed that hijackings had a statistically significant negative effect on sustainable tourism (β = -0.267, p = 0.012). The study concludes that hijackings constitute a significant threat to the sustainability and resilience of Lamu’s tourism sector. It recommends strengthened collaboration among government, security agencies, tourism stakeholders, and local communities, alongside improved crisis preparedness, coordinated communication, and public awareness programmes to mitigate security risks, restore tourist confidence, protect livelihoods, and promote sustainable tourism development in Lamu County.