Beach operators to be relocated as tourism season peaks

By TOBIAS CHANJI

Kwale,Kenya:Pending the tourism high season, the Kwale county government plans to relocate beach operators whom they said are causing chaos in the industry.

The thousands of beach operators have been accused of being a nuisance and posing a security threat to tourists.

The Kwale executive member for tourism Adam Sheikh revealed the plan yesterday at a meeting with Kenya Association of Women in Tourism (KAWT) at Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach resort in Kwale.

Curio sellers and those who operate massage parlours along the beach are among those to be relocated and according to Sheikh for a long time, the operators have not been paying rates.

Beach boys and girls will not be spared either. “Beach boys have specifically been a nuisance to tourists and of late beach girls have joined them. We want to reap a 25 per cent increase in tourism,” he said.

In 2002, the number of beach operators in Kwale was found to be 1,468 but for the past eleven years it could have risen to over 10,000.

heckle at tourists

“They have been disturbing tourists by heckling at them and selling of curios will be left to the individual hotels,” noted Sheikh.

However, he said the operators will be given designated places to operate from. “We will be relocating them to paths that lead to the beach but not near the beach,” he added.

The Bongwe/Gombato ward representative Idd Omar Boga asked the county government to put in place structures that can benefit Coastal people.

On his part the Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers Association Coast executive officer Sam Ikwaye asked the Government to help boost investor confidence.

While Ms Anne Mbogori the chairperson of KAWT Coast chapter said women should also be involved in improving the sector.