Kenya to tap into cultural tourism says CS Balala
News
By
Philip Mwakio
| Dec 04, 2018
Kenya is diversifying its unique tourism products and tapping on cultural tourism as a key product.
Speaking when he addressed the 3rd edition of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)/ UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala said that this is being done through conservation, preservation and protection of the country rich culture and heritage for all while involving the local communities.
The conference is being held at the Lutfi Kirdar International Convention and Exihibition Centre.
Balala said that Kenya's National Tourism Blueprint 2030 which is already in place seeks to address four thematic areas that are backborne of tourism development.
"These include infrastructure, product development, marketing and investment as well as research and innovation which are key enablers of Tourism development,'' Balala said.
READ MORE
State to shut down 25 entities, privatise others in new reforms
Why Kenya must move fast to invest in digital rights security
State, workers' pay tensions cloud function
Why the super-rich are ditching commercial property investments
S Sudan Central Bank Governor Rallies East Africans to Invest in Juba
Co-op Bank lines up billions for women-owned SMEs after German loan deal
Construction players protest state's bid to tax mining sector
Insurance sector players to explore use of AI in deepening uptake
Sugarcane farmers accuse AFA of 'siding with cartels' as prices drop
Growing demand for housing births modern mansions in Nakuru slums
The CS said that product development strategy aims to enrich the experience of the new generation of tourists (Millenials) whose new trends involve interacting with local communities, experience their food and culture and leaving footprints in the communities.
Balala added that the government is keen to see communities benefitting by developing culture and heritage such that the Local Communities can achieve economic development through commercialization of their culture practices (commercialization of local Maasai beads (Ushanga), Maasai merchandise) and preservation of these cultures for future generations
He noted that they are keen on encourage Local Communities to conserve and preserve culture that enables them to benefit from the culture practices and share with the tourists.
''Culture is recognized in the Kenya Constitution. Chapter 2, on Republic, of Article 11 (1) recognizes culture as the foundation of the nation and as the cumulative civilization of the Kenyan people and nation,'' Balala said.
Balala said that Article 11 (2) (a) provides that the State shall promote all forms of national and cultural expression through literature, the arts, traditional celebrations, science, communication, information,mass media, publications, libraries and other cultural heritage;
He said that in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution Article 35, Tourism policy and development recognized as a constitutional
mandate of the National Government.
Balala explained that capacity building and training of the tour guides and local-community on the culture practices and heritage such that they can explicitly interact with tourists, through the various channels such as (Digital Platform and Social Media, Pamphlets, Brochures).
The CS said that the recent first Global Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi on 26th to 28th November 2018, with over 18,810 participants from 184 countries around the world also sought to Identify Culture as one area that needs to be recognized in discussing matters of sustainability in the management of water.
bodies.
- State to shut down 25 entities, privatise others in new reforms
- Forget miraa: Discovery of minerals stirs up Meru locals
- Hiring civil servants on contract will fuel corruption, experts say
- Kenyan retailers ready to pounce as Ethiopia to open up market