Mombasa to popularise home-stay tourism

MOMBASA, KENYA: The Mombasa county government is set to popularise the concept of homestays for tourists seeking authentic experiences in the tourist resort city.

Home-stay is a form of tourism and or study abroad that allows visitors to rent rooms from local families.
It is sometimes used by people who wish to improve their language skills and become familiar with the local lifestyle.

Students tend to arrange a homestay with their school or educational institution, but they can informally arrange one through social connections and private agencies that connect students with hosts families, usually for a nominal fee.

According to the county's executive secretary for Tourism, Joab Tumbo the initiative will be promoted to attract visitors and boost tourism numbers as the county smarts from slump in bookings occasioned by travel advisories from European source markets owing to insecurity.

''We expect local residents to provide accommodation facilities, instruct tourists how to participate in workaday activities, and take them to cultural festivals and tourist attraction sites,'' Tumbo said.

The county executive said this form of tourism is expected to appeal more to holidaymakers 'especially foreign travelers who want to experience the real life of local people'.

On its part, Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (Kahc) Coast branch through its executive officer, Sam Ikwaye said that the potential for homestay particular in Mombasa town is great and yet to be fully exploited.

''Any move that aims at bringing in the numbers is welcome as we seek to diversify our attractions and march up with the best holiday destinations in the world,'' Ikwaye said.

He added that these days, it is all about getting the local experience and homestays are all about that.

''While most of the property developers in the city are purchasing large tracts of land only to build new projects in Mombasa, we have seen a marked trend where home owners are converting their palatial homes into smaller boutique hotels or homestays and are earning a few quick bucks,'' Edgar Mwakio, a Mombasa based touirsm consultant said.

He added that with a fair share of tourists and paying guests visiting the city, home owners today are finding ways to renovate their 'traditional' looking homes and give them away on lease as hotels or rent individual rooms.