By PHILIP MWAKIO
Kenya will continue to subscribe to and support activities of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Deputy Prime minister Musalia Mudavadi has disclosed.
Speaking at the Fort Jesus Museum, Mombasa during a function for the 90th session of the UNWTO Executive council meeting which started yesterday, Mudavadi said that UNWTO has been instrumental in offering member states guidance in terms of tourism policy , market competitiveness and dealing with environmental challenges.
“As we are all aware, tourism has for many years been recognised as a major economic sector in a host of host nations, Kenya included. Tourism is a leading source of foreign exchange earnings and its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product and employment cannot be gainsaid,’’ he said.
The Local Government Minister reiterated that tourism remains the hope of the future for many developing countries given that agriculture which has been the mainstay economic activity is facing adverse effects of climate change.
He pointed out that in the face of environmental challenges , nations need to comer up with common approaches to sustainable tourism .
“ We should try and embrace tourism that offers clients the best products possible in the context of sound environmental management,’’ he added.
Despite the many challenges that have continued to dog the hospitality industry , he conceded that they have been encouraged by recent trends in tourism growth.
Kenyan tourism, Mudavadi pointed out, registered a remarkable growth in 2010 recording an approximate 15 per cent growth in terms of tourist arrivals compared to 2009. Earnings generated out of tourism receipts reached sh 73.7 billion.
The World Tourism Organisation is the leading international organisation in the field of tourism.