The MMNR Visitor Use and Zonation Scheme specifies
that no new or expansion of existing
sightseeing
balloon operations are permitted within the MMNR
during the lifespan of this plan. The scheme also
sets
out more detailed prescriptions on the operation
of sightseeing balloons in and over the area, in order to
ensure
that their environmental impacts as well as visual
impacts on the MMNR tourism product are
minimised.
A number of these prescriptions will however have
important implications for the day-to-day
operation
of sightseeing balloons (for example,
environmental restrictions on the times of year balloons are
permitted
to fly). Operators in and around the MMNR
therefore need to be made aware of these
prescriptions
well in advance of their enforcement, so that they
have a suitable period of time to adapt their
management
and marketing, and to ensure minimum disturbance
to their operations. Area management will
therefore
liaise with all relevant sightseeing balloon
operators to raise awareness of the new ballooning prescriptions
(as
set out in Table 20 in the Visitor Use and
Zonation Scheme), and to establish a suitable lead-in time for
their
implementation.
However, at current levels, the number of balloons
operating in the MMNR is very high (presently
area-forarea
37 times higher than is found in the neighbouring
Serengeti National Park), which has serious
implications
for both MMNR’s habitats (when recovery
vehicles collect landed balloons off road) and for the
Reserve’s
tourism product (because of the impact that the
high visibility of balloons has on the area’s
wilderness
qualities). To address these issues, MMNR
management will initiate discussions with existing operators
with
regard options for reducing the overall numbers of
balloons operating within the Reserve. This could
involve,
for example, options for transitioning to a
smaller number of larger capacity balloons, or
reducing
balloon numbers alongside a corresponding increase
in the costs of a balloon flight. In addition,
MMNR
management will also liaise with the Kenya Civil
Aviation Authority to raise awareness of the plan’s
sightseeing
ballooning prescriptions, and on the need to
reduce the overall number of balloons operating
in/over
the area from both an environmental and tourism
product perspective.
