Tourism regulator pleads with investors to adhere to regulations to spur tourism growth

Tourism regulator, Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) now wants investors in the multibillion shilling tourism industry to avoid short cuts when setting up hospitality related businesses.

TRA  states that by following set out guidelines, high standards of operation can be maintained and put Kenya again on the global map as a destination of choice.

Speaking at the Nyali Golf View Residence (NGVR), a new accommodation facility in Mombasa County, TRA chairman, Mr Ngumbao Nyule welcomed the recently released tourism performance report for 2018 that showed an incredible growth in both arrivals and receipts.

'' We are basking in glory after a splendid 2018 period and hope 2019 will even be a better year for Kenyan tourism,'' Ngumbao said.

He commended President Uhuru Kenyatta's government for support it continues to accord the industry and hailed leadership capabilities exhibited by Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Minister, Mr Najib Balala which has seen the industry attain success and recovering from slump.

Ngumbao said that the tourism report for 2018 was a progressive one and urged stakeholders to join hands and work closely with government so as to ensure that tourism fully recovers.

'' Joint and collaborative efforts by both the government agencies and private sector players will propel us to even greater heights and ensure that destination Kenya becomes a must visit country on any visitor list on places to tour,'' the TRA chairman said.

At the same time, Ngumbao commended Dr Simon Gicharu, the founder and chairman of Mt Kenya University who is the brains behind NGVR for choosing to invest in the hospitality industry.

'' This is a magnificent piece of architecture where everything seems in place. The facility represents real modern accomodation,'' Ngumbao who was conducted round the towering property by Dr Benedict Mutuku, CEO of Goldwyne Consults, the firm managing the facility said.

Elsewhere, Skal Kenya Coast chairman, Mr Victor Shitakah has lauded efforts by the government to revamp tourism.

 Shitakah who is also Regional Manager (Coast) for the Pride Inn Group of Hotels said that attaining 2 million mark for international tourist arrivals was no mean achievement.

'' It has happened at a time when Kenya faced myriad challenges ranging from political uncertainty to security concerns. We are glad that this is all behind us now following the historic handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader, Raila Odinga that has proved to be the magic behind heightened peace and stability which have led to confidence in visitors coming to sample our destination,'' Shitakah said.

Another veteran hotelier, Mr Mohammed Omar, General Manager at the Pride Inn Paradise Beach Resort, Convention Centre and Spa said growth in tourism arrivals and receipts was a clear indication that Kenyan economy was slowly coming out of the woods.

'' This is clearly a positive trend for the tourism industry which is slowly moving upwards. We are optimistic of a better 2019,'' he said.