More tourists expected in Baringo as cattle rustling menace declines

By ROBERT KIPLAGAT

Baringo,Kenya:Baringo County is expecting more than 180,000 tourists in its major tourism destinations at the end of this year due to favourable weather and prevailing peace.

The number of tourists is expected to increase from the 105,000 received last year with tourists from Eastern countries such as China hitting over 3,000 for the last two months.

Lake Baringo’s flamingos and Lake Bogoria’s hot springs are favourite with the tourists. And hotels are expected to make a killing out of this boost. Lake Bogoria Game Reserve warden William Kimosop attributed the booming tourism at the lake to its recent enlisting by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) as one of the world’s heritage sites.

semi-arid region

He also said that as opposed to the yester-years where the area receives only foreign tourists, domestic tourism was also fast picking. Despite the region being semi-arid, tourism is the highest revenue-earner for the county with Lake Bogoria alone raising over Sh10 million.

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Lake Bogoria Spa Resort General Manager Lydia Dentewo said the hotel is in the process of setting up 60 more cottages and 150 rooms to accommodate the high number of tourists.

Recently, the county Governor Benjamin Cheboi said insecurity that had been a major hindrance to tourism had diminished. “In the past, Baringo has been synonymous with cattle rustling but there is peace now,” he said.