CS Phyllis Kandie lays out plans to improve Kenyan beaches

President Uhuru Kenyatta (middle), flanked by among others cabinet Secretary Commerce, Tourism and East African Affairs Phyllis Kandie, waters a tree upon arrival at the Kaskazi Beach Hotel in in Kwale County on Friday. [PHOTO BY MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD]

MOMBASA, KENYA: The East Africa Affairs, Commerce and Tourism ministry will work closely with county governments in the coastal region to raise beach management to international standards.

“We are keen to explore ways of improving the beach product so as to retain its glory,” said Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie. “My ministry and the county governments in the coastal region will come up with sustainable measures on beach management to keep up with the global standards.”

Kandie made the remarks during the official relaunch of Kaskazi Beach Hotel in Diani South on Friday. President Uhuru Kenyatta was the chief guest. In 2011, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) started a Beach Management Programme (BMP) at the Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve.

Funded by the Government, the BMP was a six-month pilot initiative aimed at restoring the competitive edge of Kenya’s coastal area as a tourism destination while ensuring that the marine and beach tourism products are sustained.

The programme launch at that time marked the beginning of the implementation of the Tourism ministry’s beach strategic plan, which recommended the re-introduction of a beach management programme.

The programme was geared towards boosting coastal tourism fortunes which have been declining over the years despite steady recovery of the overall national tourism sector. According to sector analysts, BMP is expected to address some of the emerging threats to beach tourism in Kenya which have contributed to the decline. These threats include tourist harassment, beach insecurity, beach degradation and youth unemployment.

KWS, while implementing the pilot programme, carried out beach patrols, daily beach clean-up, life guard duties and restoration of degraded beach areas. Kandie said the opening of the new Kaskazi Beach Hotel gives the much-needed impetus to Kenya’s re-assurance campaigns and confirms the resilience and confidence visitors and investors have on Kenya.

She said the facility will add 190 beds to Coast’s current occupancy levels which is short by 30,000 beds.

The Cabinet Secretary said such investments come in handy as Kenya seeks to grow tourism numbers. ‘’Our ambition is to do more than bounce back. We are not just interested in reclaiming our glory but in raising the bar. Occasions such as this will give us the momentum we need to do exactly that,’’ she said.

Kandie said the Government will heighten its mission to lure back visitors who have in one way or another been scared away by negative travel advisories as a result of terrorism in the coastal region.

“Let me hasten to add that these campaigns, which my ministry is mounting through the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) and the private sector, are envisaged to bear fruits. We are certain of good tidings in the near future,’’ she said.

Kandie said that President’s directive to help stimulate the industry is poised to register growth courtesy of recent stimulus tourism package. And to further improve on the flow of tourists to the coastal region, Kandie said the Tourism ministry is engaging other Government institutions for robust air charter operation, especially through Moi International Airport in Mombasa.

“This we believe will improve on the numbers to the region that has recorded a decline in the recent past,’’ she said.