Safety and Security in Tourism Destinations: Its moderating role in the Destination Competitiveness Determinants and Destination Competitiveness Nexus in Western Kenya Circuit

Abstract

Kenya’s western tourist circuit is undoubtedly the Country’s best kept secret. However, inspite of this, the circuit is least competitive as most tourists prefer the coastal circuit and selected protected areas. This paper sought to establish whether safety and security had a moderating role on the relationship between destination competiveness determinants: (destination attractors, support resources, destination management) and destination competitiveness. Explanatory research design was adopted. Convenience sampling technique was used to arrive at a sample size of 102 tourists. From the research findings, safety and security had a positive moderation effect on the relationship between destination attractors and destination management. However, safety and security had no significant effect on the relationship between support resources and destination competitiveness.