Climate Change Threatens Coastal Livelihoods and Heritage in Kenya’s Tourism Heartland
Returning to the sweltering heat of Kilifi on Kenya’s coast after a chilly German winter, the profound impacts of climate change became immediately tangible. With midday temperatures soaring above 35°C and the sun relentless over the Western Indian Ocean shoreline, this renowned tourism hotspot—famed for its beaches, marine adventures, and island excursions—now faces new environmental realities that deeply affect its people and tourism economy.
Research into the livelihoods of women running small businesses along the coast reveals how rising temperatures, ocean levels, and erratic weather patterns are reshaping everyday life in Kenya’s tourist towns. In Kilifi, women’s groups are engaged in mangrove restoration, nurturing seedlings along the tidal edge. These mangroves play a crucial role in regenerating coastal forests and providing nursery habitats for seafood species, but their survival is threatened as freshwater becomes scarce and seedlings perish in the increasingly saline environment.
The consequences are felt immediately by women tour guides, seafood suppliers, hoteliers, and craft sellers. As mangrove forests decline, stocks of prawns and crabs dwindle, impacting both traditional cuisine and vital sources of income. The connection between flourishing mangroves and seafood abundance is direct—and when these habitats disappear, it is women, who make up the backbone of the local tourism workforce, who suffer most.
The effects are not just economic. The loss of key ingredients like cashew, coconut, and baobab—victims of prolonged drought and changing weather—strips away culinary heritage that has been carefully passed down through generations. Women involved in food businesses describe cooking as an essential part of their identity and culture, with recipes and techniques rooted in the region’s biodiversity. As plants wither and seafood becomes scarce, traditional dishes vanish, undermining gastro-tourism, a growing draw for visitors seeking authentic coastal experiences.
The rising sea is swallowing land that once supported communities and marked family legacies. Stories from the coast describe how coastal traders are being displaced as ocean waters reclaim beachfronts. The physical loss of land leads to psychological distress, loss of ancestral burial sites, and the erosion of community bonds. When women lose access to the coast, they are further sidelined from participating in decisions that shape the ocean economy.
These intertwined economic and non-economic losses reveal the true depth of climate change’s impact on Kenya’s coastal tourism sector. The erosion of ecosystems translates into lost income and livelihoods, while the simultaneous loss of heritage and a sense of place threatens the cultural fabric that sustains tourism and community identity. The traditional focus on extracting economic value from the ocean often overlooks these vital cultural practices, which are fundamental to the resilience of local businesses and the visitor experience.
Globally, there is increasing recognition—such as through United Nations mechanisms—of the importance of culture, identity, and sense of place in adaptation and loss-and-damage responses. However, local perspectives remain essential to understanding how climate change is experienced on the ground and how policy responses should be crafted.
For Kenya and other African coastal destinations, addressing climate risks in tourism requires policies that value both economic and non-economic losses. Climate action and adaptation planning must account for the gendered realities of the workforce, especially as women dominate the informal tourism sector and are primary stewards of cultural heritage. Ignoring these dimensions risks weakening the very communities whose knowledge and traditions are crucial to sustaining and protecting coastal ecosystems.
As climate change accelerates, Africa’s coastal tourism hubs like Kilifi are at a crossroads. By centering community voices, safeguarding cultural practices, and designing gender-sensitive adaptation strategies, the region can build resilience and preserve the unique experiences that draw visitors from around the world—ensuring that tourism remains both sustainable and deeply rooted in the identities of those who call the coast home.
