Kenya targets three million tourists by 2017, says Phyllis Kandie

By Stephen Makabila

The government has lined-up an ambitious tourism plan that seeks to double the number of foreign arrivals from current 1.8 million annually to three million by 2017.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie says this will be achieved through diversification of tourism products to embrace business, sports, cultural and eco tourism.

The plan intends to consolidate the traditional tourism source markets of Europe and Americas and also venture into new emerging markets of Asia, Middle East, India, East Europe and Brazil.

Vibrant sector

“To ensure increased revenues, the plan seeks to establish three more conference and convention centres in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu to attract business tourists. This alongside, the diversification of the products to include sports, cultural and medical tourism, will ensure a vibrant sector,” said Kandie while outlining the ministry’s agenda and focus for 2014.

Kandie said the ministry would soon set up the Tourism Regulatory Authority as provided for in the Tourism Act 2011, to reign in rogue tour operators and streamline operations in the sector so as to raise the standards of tourism products.

Kandie said the strategic plan they intend to implement is a product of extensive stakeholder consultation and will help establish a framework for monitoring and evaluating performance.

“The ministry will use this strategic plan to implement the Trade and Tourism deliverables of the Second Medium Term Plan of Vision 2030. Key flagship projects in these sectors include; construction of one pilot wholesale hub in Maragua to serve as a model for the private sector, construction of one pilot and Tier 1 Retail Market in Athi River to serve as a model for the private sector,”she said.

Integration process

She said the plan will seek to expedite the East African Integration process to facilitate free movement of labour, goods and services.

Apart from targeting the tourism revenue in upwards of Sh200 billion yearly, the ministry seeks to encourage the expansion of hospitality industry facilities, including bed capacity to more than 30,000 additional beds.

Kandie’s plate is full this year ahead of many activities lined up under her docket. This follows her assumption as the head of East African Community council of ministers and of the regional leadership by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“We share the task of chairing this community. This means those charged with the role of spearheading the success of the integration process must redouble their efforts. I am one of them and I make this commitment to myself and to you,” she told her staff on Thursday.

She is expected to help the President navigate regional issues in all five member partner states including the single visa, monetary unionand use of single identity card.