Taskforce pushes for more tourism funding

One big challenge facing the tourism industry is inadequate financing to market destination Kenya. Speaking at the inaugural Mombasa Hotel Show, last Friday at the Wild Waters Amusement Park, Chairperson of the Tourism Recovery Task Force, Lucy Karume, said the team is pushing for additional funds to help market Kenya as a tourist destination aggressively.

Ms Karume lauded the event organisers for putting up a show that promotes Mombasa as an investment and business destination and puts the coastal city in good light. “We continue to face challenges. But as a nation, together we can achieve a lot if we act and pull in the same direction,” Karume said.

She urged the sponsors to support the industry during both good and bad times by bringing down the cost of products. The event brought together more than 35 exhibitors from the hospitality industry and attracted over 10,000 visitors all drawn from the Coast region.

It received the support of the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers & Caterers (Kahc), Pubs Entertainment & Restaurants Association of Kenya, SKAL International, Kenya Association of Tour Operators and the Kenya Coast Tourism Association.

Sponsors of the event included East African Breweries Limited (EABL), Liquid Africa, Nomadic Tents, Agency Africa Interactive, Farmers Choice and Highlands.

Business deals

The forum was organised by Slujan Events Limited, organisers of the Kenya Hospitality Trade Fair and the Hotel Summit East Africa. “This inaugural edition of the Mombasa Hotel Show was organised after having emerged that there is a gap in the Coast region for hospitality oriented events that promote business and investment. We see this as an opportunity to hold a business show tailored to directly meet the needs of the hotels and lodges of the Coast region and its environs,’’ Slujan Events CEO, Mr Steve Owuor said.

The show, themed “Getting Back on Track”, aims at increasing investor confidence in the Coast and the country at large. “This serves as an opportunity for the business community to learn more about the business trends in the Coast, their needs, know how to close business deals with the entities in the Coast, and most importantly, increase their client base and make their products and services known,’’ Owuor explained.

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