Responsible Tourism and Hotel Management: An Empirical Analysis of the Ethical Dimensions in Tourism and Hospitality Industry in Kenya

Abstract

While there has been some research on ethics in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry in Kenya and elsewhere, the amount is not proportionate to the importance of the issue. Hotel and Tourism sectors can benefit from conducting their business in an ethical and more responsible manner. This paper examined key ethical issues such as personnel conduct, job satisfaction, code of ethics and organizational commitment in the Kenyan context. Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers (KAHKC 2012) has a clear code of ethics for its members. But in practice, this is not followed to the latter by the majority of key players in the Industry, thus giving room for unethical behavior. The researcher employed empirical analysis using statistical tools such as analysis of variance (ANOVA), Component analysis and Regression analysis. The conduct of employees in Tourism, and all the other actors that participate indirectly in the Industry in Kenya contribute greatly to creating the image of the country in domestic and international markets. In that sense, ethical conduct and respect of the code of ethics is the basis of acquiring a good image and improving the tourist product in Kenya. It was found that employees who work in an ethical Hotel environment are more satisfied with their job and more loyal to their employers than their counterparts who work in an unethical environment.